After Sashi Brown was promoted to government vp of soccer operations in 2016, Cleveland went 1-27 earlier than he was fired in December 2017.
After practically 20 years, the Ravens can have a brand new crew president.
Dick Cass will retire after 18 years with the group and might be succeeded by former Cleveland Browns and Washington Wizards government Sashi Brown, the crew introduced Friday.
Brown, 45, is anticipated to hitch the Ravens in March and formally take over for Cass on April 1, when he’ll be part of the Washington Commanders’ Jason Wright because the NFL’s solely Black crew presidents. Brown will assume the identical obligations held by Cass, overseeing all enterprise areas of the group, together with funds, budgeting, non-football personnel, company gross sales, operations, communications and enterprise ventures. He's anticipated to hitch the Ravens in March.
Right here’s what it's essential to know concerning the Ravens’ new crew president:
He obtained his first NFL job with assist from Cass.
After graduating from Hampton after which Harvard Legislation Faculty, Brown began his profession as an legal professional in 2002 at Wilmer, Cutler, Pickering, Hale and Dorr in Washington, a agency run by Cass. Whereas there, Brown represented shoppers in a wide range of issues, together with sports-related transactions, enterprise capital and private-equity offers, and mergers and acquisitions.
In line with a 2016 NFL.com story, Cass really helpful Brown for a job with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2005. He spent eight years there as senior vp and normal counsel, engaged on each the soccer and enterprise facet of the franchise’s operations.
“He’s at all times had good judgement,” Cass advised NFL.com when Brown was promoted to vp of soccer operations in Cleveland. “He’s straightforward to get together with and he’s a consensus builder. Good temperament. Doesn’t fly off the deal with. He’s well-suited for the Browns’ job, I feel — all of these qualities will serve him effectively.”
Brown was initially employed by Cleveland in 2013 as government vp and normal counsel, the place he additionally served the franchise in each soccer and enterprise capacities. He was liable for overseeing the roster and wage cap and directing the crew’s soccer administration features, together with negotiation of gamers contracts. On the enterprise facet, his duties included insurance coverage and danger administration, licensing and intellectual-property points and litigation administration.
His Cleveland tenure produced few wins, however large modifications.
After Brown was promoted to government vp of soccer operations in 2016, Cleveland went 1-27 earlier than he was fired in December 2017.
Whereas the crew struggled on the sector, ending with solely the second 0-16 season in NFL historical past in 2017, Brown performed an enormous function in serving to reshape the crew’s personnel. The Browns stockpiled picks and created extra wage cap house than any crew within the league. In 2018, Cleveland had the most draft capital of any crew within the trendy period, which dates to 1993.
Brown’s analytics-based strategy drew comparisons to these of Sam Hinkie, the previous Philadelphia 76ers normal supervisor who amassed picks and younger expertise whereas prioritizing the long run over the current. These draft picks finally yielded gifted younger gamers corresponding to quarterback Baker Mayfield, cornerback Denzel Ward, tight finish David Njoku, defensive lineman Larry Ogunjobi and defensive finish Myles Garrett, a perennial Defensive Participant of the Yr candidate. Brown additionally reportedly wished to rent coach Sean McDermott, now having fun with a profitable tenure in Buffalo, over Hue Jackson, who went 3-36-1 in three seasons.
Within the eight years earlier than Brown was promoted, Cleveland went via 5 head coaches and 5 normal managers and averaged fewer than 5 wins per season. Within the 4 seasons since he was fired, it’s gone 32-32-1, clinched its first playoff look since 2002 and gained its first playoff sport since 1994.
“[Sashi] undoubtedly did a superb job of getting the picks, getting the cap to the place he obtained it to, to the place you possibly can exit and get any participant you need,” security Jabrill Peppers advised The Ringer after being traded from the Browns to the New York Giants in 2019 for vast receiver Odell Beckham Jr. “It takes quite a lot of endurance that I don’t assume lots of people have. However they're reaping the fruits of his labor now, although they don’t wish to attribute it to him. He undoubtedly has an enormous a part of what’s occurring there.”
After leaving soccer, he took a job in basketball.
After one 12 months out of sports activities, Brown was employed by Washington Wizards proprietor Ted Leonsis in 2019. For 3 years, Brown served as president of Monumental Basketball and as a particular adviser to Leonsis at Monumental Sports activities & Leisure, overseeing operations for the NBA’s Wizards, WNBA’s Mystics and NBA G League’s Capital Metropolis Go-Go.
These duties included analysis and data techniques, expertise, tools, communications, finance, services, safety and participant engagement. Brown additionally led Monumental Sports activities & Leisure’s venue operations.
“I feel I've a robust will,” Brown stated when he was employed by Leonsis in 2019. “To maintain correct perspective is critically necessary. These are privileges, not one thing everybody will get an opportunity to do. I used to be extraordinarily fortunate to even have the time that I did [in Cleveland].”
In line with The Washington Submit, Brown oversaw chief of athlete care and efficiency Daniel Medina and Mystics coach and normal supervisor Mike Thibault. He and Mystics proprietor Sheila Johnson additionally represented Monumental at WNBA homeowners’ conferences.
Brown’s resignation comes lower than three months after receiving a multiyear extension from Monumental.
A Boston native, Brown and his spouse, Paige, reside in Bethesda and have two sons, Robeson and Ellison, and a daughter, Zora.