Ryan Grigson Ryan Grigson ( born February 23 , 1972 ) is the general manager for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League . He played college football as a tight end and offensive tackle for the Purdue Boilermakers . He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the sixth round of the 1995 NFL Draft . He was a member of the Detroit Lions from 1995 – 1996 , and played for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League in 1997 before he retired due to a back injury . Grigson was a pro scout for the Saskatchewan Roughriders and an assistant coach for McPherson College in 1998 . In 1999 he was a player personnel coordinator and assistant coach for the Buffalo Destroyers of the Arena Football League . From 1999 to 2003 , Grigson was a national and regional scout for the St . Louis Rams . He was hired by the Eagles as a western regional scout in 2004 , and was promoted to director of college scouting in 2006 . He was promoted to director of player personnel in 2010 before being hired by the Colts in 2012 . Playing career . College . Grigson played college football for the Purdue Boilermakers from 1991 – 1994 . On October 10 , 1992 in a game against Minnesota , Grigson was hit in the stomach by a defender and developed a kidney ailment . He was hospitalized immediately after and missed the entire season . Grigson returned for the 1993 season and was named one of three captains , along with Mike Alstott and Matt Kingsbury , for the 1994 season ( Purdue ' s first winning season in a decade ) . Professional . Grigson was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the sixth round ( 175th overall ) of the 1995 NFL Draft . He was signed to a contract by the Bengals on June 10 , 1995 , but was waived during final cuts on August 28 . He was signed by the Detroit Lions shortly thereafter and spent the 1995 season with the team . He was released by the Lions on August 14 , 1996 . He played for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League in 1997 before he suffered a career - ending back injury and was forced to retire . Executive and coaching career . Early career . Following his retirement from playing , Grigson became a pro scout for the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 1998 . In the same year , he was an assistant coach for McPherson College ' s football team . In 1999 , he was a player personnel coordinator and assistant coach for the Buffalo Destroyers of the Arena Football League . National Football League . Grigson was hired by the St . Louis Rams as a national scout in 1999 . He was part of the Rams ' Super Bowl XXXIV championship team in 1999 and the Rams ' NFC Championship / Super Bowl XXXVI team in 2001 as an area scout . On May 15 , 2004 , Grigson was hired by the Philadelphia Eagles as a western regional scout . He was a part of the Eagles ' NFC Championship / Super Bowl XXXIX team in 2004 . On June 8 , 2006 , he was promoted to director of college scouting , and on February 3 , 2010 , he was promoted to director of player personnel . Grigson was hired by the Indianapolis Colts as their general manager on January 11 , 2012 . After a surprising 2012 season , which put the Colts back in the NFL Playoffs with an 11 - 5 record , Grigson earned Executive of the Year honors from the Sporting News and Pro Football Weekly . Personal . Ryan Richard Grigson was born to Jeff and Juanita ( Rokita ) Grigson in 1972 . Jeff Grigson ( d . 1980 ) had played college football at Northwest Missouri State University . Ryan ' s brother , Dru ( currently a scout for the Arizona Cardinals ) , was born in 1978 . Grigson attended Our Lady of Grace Catholic School from 1978 - 86 . He played high school football at Highland Senior High from 1986 - 90 . As a sophomore , he was a member of the Trojan team that played in the 1987 5A State Championship game at the Colts ' original stadium , the Hoosier Dome ( RCA Dome ) . Grigson met his wife , Cynthia , while the two were students at Purdue University . The couple married in 2001 and have five children .