The Washington Commanders are undergoing a complete franchise overhaul.
With a 4-13 finish in the 2023 season, Washington has missed out on the postseason for a third consecutive year. After firing head coach Ron Rivera, Commanders owner Josh Harris has tabbed former Warriors GM Bob Myers and former Vikings GM Rick Spielman to assist in the search for new football operations leadership, per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
While Spielman has 30-plus years of history in the NFL, the hiring of Myers raised some eyebrows due to his longstanding history as a fixture in NBA front offices. A closer look, however, adds context to Myers' hiring.
Why did Washington bring in a former NBA GM to aid in its football operations? Here is more on who Myers is and what he brings to the Commanders' front office operations.
MORE: Why the Commanders fired Ron Rivera
Why did the Commanders hire Bob Myers?
Myers has been hired by the Commanders in an advisory role.
According to Wojnarowski's report, Myers will work with Harris and Washington's ownership group — which includes Basketball Hall of Famer Magic Johnson — to "reshape the Commanders' front office and coaching staff."
Per Wojnarowski, Myers will identify and coordinate interviews with candidates for football operations and head coaching jobs.
The Athletic's David Aldridge provided context to the hire, adding that Myers and Harris have developed a strong relationship through a mutual connection with Warriors owner Joe Lacob.
Aldridge added that "you can expect Myers to be around the Commanders for a while," indicating that the former NBA executive's role will extend beyond the process of searching for a new head coach.
MORE: Latest updates on Bill Belichick, Arthur Smith, other coaches on the Black Monday hot seat
Who is Bob Myers?
Bob Myers is a former basketball executive, current NBA analyst on ESPN and front office advisor for the Washington Commanders.
A native of the San Francisco Bay Area, Myers played basketball collegiately at UCLA, beginning as a walk-on before earning a scholarship as a sophomore. Myers played sparingly at UCLA but was a part of the program's National Championship team in 1995.
After his playing career, Myers became a sports agent and earned a law degree from Loyola Law School. Among his most notable clients were Kendrick Perkins and Brandon Roy.
In April 2011, Myers was hired as assistant general manager of the Warriors and was promoted to GM one year later.
In Myers' first draft as assistant GM Golden State drafted Klay Thompson to form a backcourt with Stephen Curry. In his first draft as GM, the team selected Harrison Barnes, Festus Ezeli and Draymond Green.
Myers was named NBA Executive of the Year following the 2014-15 season as the Warriors would win the franchise's first NBA title in 40 years. In 2016, he was again promoted as he was named president of basketball operations in addition to his duties as general manager.
He was again named Executive of the Year in 2016-17 as Golden State's addition of Kevin Durant kicked off a run of back-to-back NBA championships.
A year after the Warriors won the 2022 NBA title, Myers announced that he would be stepping down from his position once his contract came to an end.
Bob Myers executive championships, accolades, notable transactions
- 2x NBA Executive of the Year (2015, 2017)
- 4x NBA Champion (2015, 2017, 2018, 2022)
Myers' two Executive of the Year awards and four NBA championships represent some of the major transactions he helped execute during his time in Golden State's front office.
Here are a few of the most notable:
- 2011: Drafted Klay Thompson 11th overall
- 2012: Drafted Harrison Barnes (7th) and Draymond Green (35th)
- 2013: Acquired free agent Andre Iguodala via sign-and-trade
- 2014: Hired Steve Kerr as head coach, signed free agents Leandro Barbosa and Shaun Livingston
- 2015: Drafted Kevon Looney 30th overall
- 2016: Signed free agents Kevin Durant and David West
- 2018: Signed free agent DeMarcus Cousins
- 2019: Drafted Jordan Poole 28th overall, acquired D'Angelo Russell in sign-and-trade for Kevin Durant
- 2020: Acquired Andrew Wiggins, 2021 1st round pick in trade centered around D'Angelo Russell
- 2021: Signed Gary Payton II, drafted Jonathan Kuminga (7th) and Moses Moody (14th)
