Everyone was confused when Washington Commanders owner Josh Harris announced in January that he was bringing aboard former Golden State Warriors general manager Bob Myers. Myers and former Vikings GM Rick Speilman were hired as consultants to help Harris search for a new head of football operations and head coach.
After all, for as brilliant as Myers is and was in building the Warriors into a dynasty, what did he know about building a football franchise?
The answer was always easy. You don’t get to the top of a professional sports franchise and remain there without being brilliant. For Myers, it wasn’t about 40 times or 10-yard shuttles but about relationships. Myers knows how to build organizations, choose winners, and build an organizational culture.
Harris raised some eyebrows when it was revealed he attended the 2024 NFL combine and was in on the interviews with the top quarterback prospects. It was much ado about nothing. Why wouldn’t Harris want to sit in and listen on potentially meeting the next potential face of the Washington franchise?
Myers also sat in with Harris on the interviews. However, general manager Adam Peters and coach Dan Quinn led the meetings. Harris and Myers were present but reportedly just to listen and learn.
Myers explained his role at the combine.
“Meeting with Dan, meeting with Adam about free agency,” Peters said. “Meeting with Josh, spending time with him while he was there. Just honestly being aware that there was a lot I didn’t know. Asking questions in areas that I might see commonality, I would offer, ‘This is the NBA’s version of how we approached free agency.’ Sometimes, when you ask questions, it helps the leaders of the Commanders find answers themselves.”
Myers referenced the 15-minute formal interviews all 32 NFL teams had at the combine.
“Sometimes we talked a little bit about these interviews, these 15-minute interviews or these short snapshots,” Myers said. “Sometimes, you overreact to a good or bad interview, realizing that’s a mistake. That’s not smart. It’s making a determination on a big decision in 15 minutes is never smart. So just sharing ideas like that, sharing experiences, because the NFL and NBA combine have a lot of common threads to them, they have a lot of similarities.”
“Sometimes when you just ask questions, it helps the leaders find answers themselves”
Bob Myers on his role at the NFL Combine
https://t.co/DzWQWJDCxo pic.twitter.com/DuX7Vv8suR
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) March 8, 2024
This is really good stuff from Myers. Harris values critical thinkers, which is why they are both outstanding leaders. Myers wasn’t there to step on Peters or Quinn but to give them an extra sounding board. For instance, if someone came out of one of those interviews believing that the player was their guy, Myers was there to remind them that a 15-minute period isn’t enough to make a complete determination.
Leadership isn’t an issue for the Commanders anymore.