Meeting New Lions Senior Personnel Executive Jimmy Raye III

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What The Lions Are Getting With Jimmy Raye III.


Last week, the Lions added a new Senior Personnel Excutive, Jimmy Raye III. Raye has been around the NFL for a long time, and looks to be a good addition to the Lions front office.

Raye came to the NFL in 1991 when he played wide receiver for the Los Angeles Rams. Raye appeared in two games, recording one reception for 19 yards.  However, that was his only season as a player in the NFL, and he never made another final roster.

Jimmy Raye III then went to Kansas City in 1995, under the title of Offensive Quality Control Coach. He again only stayed in his role for a single year, and moved on at the end of the 1995 season.

Finally, in 1996, Raye found stability with the then San Diego Chargers front office. He worked for the Chargers as a scout from 1996-1999, then was promoted to the Director of College Scouting in 2000. He stayed in this role until 2007. Raye then received his third promotion from the Chargers in 2008, this time to the Director of Player Personnel. He stayed in this role until the end of the 2012 season.

Raye moved on to become the Vice President of Football Operations for the Indianapolis Colts in 2013. He stayed in that role until the end of the 2016 season. Raye helped the Colts to a 38-26 win loss record over those four seasons, in which they made the playoffs twice, including a Conference Championship appearance in 2014.

Lastly, Raye was the Vice President of Player Personnel and the Assistant General Manager of the Houston Texans last year, during the 2017 season.

So, the Lions are getting a man who has over two decades of NFL experience as a player, coach and high ranking front executive in Jimmy Raye III. Truthfully, Raye is probably underemployed in his new role with the Lions, and will likely move on to a more significant role with another team in the near future.

However, Raye is a fantastic hire for the Lions front office at the moment, and should be a big help to Bob Quinn and the rest of the Detroit Lions management.

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