Floyd Reese Floyd Reese ( born August 8 , 1948 ) is a senior football advisor for the New England Patriots of the National Football League . From 1994 – 2006 Reese held the position of general manager of the Tennessee Titans . Reese also served as an analyst on ESPN ' s NFL Live , and as a writer on ESPN . com before joining the Patriots . As a general manager , Reese drafted three NFL Rookie of the Year Award winners among his 11 first round draft choices : running back Eddie George in 1996 , defensive end Jevon Kearse in 1999 , and quarterback Vince Young in 2006 . Reese also drafted NFL co - MVP quarterback Steve McNair . College career . Reese was a three - year letterman and three - year starter ( making 28 of 30 starts ) for the University of California , Los Angeles . He was voted UCLA rookie of the year in 1967 . Reese was part of a Bruins defense that gave up only 103 points ( ninth best in school history ) and posted an 8 - 1 - 1 record his senior year . Reese was an All - America n in 1969 . He was voted the team co - MVP in 1969 ( along with quarterback Dennis Dummit ) making him the only defensive player ever to win the award . Reese was also one of UCLA ' s tri - captains as well as All - Pac - 8 . He was voted to the Los Angeles Times All - Time UCLA team in 1970 . Reese played in the Hula Bowl after his senior season and was voted the game ' s outstanding lineman . Playing career . Reese played one season in the Canadian Football League ( 1970 ) for the Montreal Alouettes . He signed with the Toronto Argonauts in 1971 but did not play and decided to move into coaching that same year . Professional career . Coaching . Reese was an assistant coach at UCLA from 1971 – 73 and also with Georgia Tech in 1974 . He became the Detroit Lions strength and conditioning coach in 1975 and moved to the San Francisco 49ers as strength and conditioning coach in 1978 . Reese became the Minnesota Vikings linebacker coach and special teams from 1979 though 1983 and was the Vikings ' defensive coordinator in 1984 . He returned to the post of linebacker coach in 1985 . The next season Reese began a four year stint as linebacker coach for the Houston Oilers . NFL executive . In 1990 , Reese was promoted to the position of assistant general manager for the Oilers following an offer from Jerry Glanville , then head coach of the Atlanta Falcons , to join the Falcons as assistant head coach . Bud Adams wanted to keep Reese with the Oilers so he offered Reese the position of assistant general manager and the opportunity to one day replace Mike Holovak , then - Oilers general manager . Reese held that position until 1993 . In 1994 , Reese was promoted to executive vice president and general manager , where he stayed while the Oilers moved to Nashville , Tennessee , first as the Tennessee Oilers , then as the Tennessee Titans . He added the role of director of football operations in 2001 . After disputes with Adams and coach Jeff Fisher about the direction of the team ( Fisher wanted more control in drafts ) , and realizing that Adams was not likely to offer him a new contract , Reese resigned his position with the Titans following the 2006 season , despite amassing the most wins ( 111 ) of any Oilers / Titans general manager . Following his departure from the Titans , Reese joined ESPN as an NFL analyst and writer for ESPN . com . On January 27 , 2009 , Reese was hired by the New England Patriots as a senior football advisor following Patriots vice president of player personnel Scott Pioli leaving to become general manager of the Kansas City Chiefs . Following the 2009 season , Reese was a finalist for the Seattle Seahawks general manager position , one that was eventually filled by John Schneider .