Cincinnati Bengals assistant general manager Mike Potts is increasingly viewed as a prominent contender for a full general manager role within the National Football League. His extensive tenure and multifaceted contributions to the Bengals' player personnel department have positioned him as a respected figure in the football scouting world. This growing recognition highlights a potential shift for Potts to assume a top leadership position in another NFL organization.
Mike Potts' Rise in NFL Front Office Circles
In a significant development for the Cincinnati Bengals' front office, assistant general manager Mike Potts is reportedly on the cusp of securing a full general manager position with another NFL team. This comes amidst ongoing discussions among fans regarding the Bengals' own organizational structure, which lacks a traditional general manager, instead relying on Director of Player Personnel Duke Tobin to largely fill that role.
According to Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer, Potts is a name "closing in" on such an opportunity. His promotion to assistant general manager during the 2024 offseason, alongside Steven Radicevic and Trey Brown, underscored his expanding influence within the Bengals' player personnel department, which operates under Duke Tobin's leadership.
Breer highlighted Potts' long-standing critical role in the Bengals' college scouting operations. Given the lean size of Tobin's staff, Potts has been compelled to engage deeply across various aspects of player evaluation and recruitment. This hands-on experience has earned him considerable esteem within the broader scouting community.
Now in his eleventh season with the Bengals and fifteenth year in the NFL, Potts' responsibilities are extensive, as detailed by Bengals.com. His duties encompass managing the personnel staff, meticulously overseeing the draft process, evaluating top prospects from across the nation, developing the intricate draft board, and facilitating the acquisition of undrafted free agents. This broad scope ensures his involvement in every facet of roster construction.
With a comprehensive understanding of the team's operations spanning over a decade and direct involvement in shaping recent rosters, Potts presents a compelling profile for organizations seeking a more conventional general manager framework. Regardless of whether the Bengals ultimately adopt such a model internally, Potts' elevated status within the league signals that other franchises are keenly observing his trajectory and potential for a top leadership role.
The ascent of individuals like Mike Potts within the NFL's front office underscores the critical importance of a comprehensive and hands-on approach to player personnel. It highlights that true leadership emerges not just from titles, but from consistent dedication to every aspect of team building—from scouting raw talent to meticulously crafting a competitive roster. This narrative offers valuable insights for aspiring sports executives, emphasizing that deep engagement and a broad skill set are key to ascending the ranks in a highly competitive professional environment.