Bears Hire Emery 1/28/12
By: Scott Leber
Updated: August 20, 2012
LAKE FOREST, IL - The Chicago Bears have reached an agreement with Phil Emery today to become the team's fifth general manager in franchise history.
Emery joins the Bears after spending 14 seasons in the NFL including the last three as the Kansas City Chiefs Director of College Scouting. The Chiefs won the AFC West in 2010.
This will be Emery's second stint with the Bears after working as an area scout for the franchise from 1998-2004. During that time the Bears drafted Pro Bowler's WR Marty Booker (third round of 1999), KR Jerry Azumah (fifth round of 1999), LB Brian Urlacher (first round of 2000), S Mike Brown (second round of 2000), CB Charles Tillman (second round of 2003), LB Lance Briggs (third round of 2003), DT Tommie Harris (first round of 2004) and CB Nathan Vasher (fourth round of 2004). Chicago won the NFC Central in 2001.
From 2004-08, Emery served as the Director of College Scouting for the Atlanta Falcons. During that time, two of the three Falcons first round draft picks developed into Pro Bowlers: WR Roddy White (2005) and QB Matt Ryan (2008). He also worked as a regional scout for the Falcons leading up to the 2009 draft. The Falcons made two trips to the playoffs during that time including an appearance in the 2004 NFC Championship game.
The Michigan native is a 31-year football veteran, starting his career serving as a student assistant at his alma mater, Wayne State, before joining Central Michigan as a graduate assistant (1981-82). He went on to become the offensive line/strength and conditioning coach at Western New Mexico for three seasons (1982-84) before becoming a defensive line coach at Georgetown College from 1984-85. Emery went on to serve as the defensive line and strength and conditioning coach at Saginaw Valley State from 1985-87 before joining Tennessee as the Volunteers assistant strength and conditioning coach from 1987-91. His tenure at Tennessee was highlighted by back-to-back Southeastern Conference Championships in 1989 and 1990. He made his last collegiate stop as the Director of Strength and Conditioning Services and as an Associate Professor at the U.S. Naval Academy (1991-98), where the Midshipmen won the Aloha Bowl in 1996.
Emery and his wife, Beth, have a daughter, April.
