Tom Heckert , Jr . Thomas Heckert , Jr . ( born July 17 , 1967 ) is an American football executive that most recently served as the general manager for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League . In his career , Heckert has had the opportunity to work with four of the more successful head coaches in recent NFL history , including Hall of Famer Don Shula , Jimmy Johnson , Andy Reid , and Mike Holmgren . Miami Dolphins . Heckert had a 10 - year stint with the Miami Dolphins ( 1991 – 2000 ) , spending his first nine seasons there as both a pro and college scout . Heckert also served as the Dolphins ’ Assistant Director of Pro Personnel / College Scout in 1999 before being promoted to Director of Pro Personnel in 2000 . Philadelphia Eagles . Heckert first went to the Eagles as Director of Player Personnel in 2001 before being promoted to Vice President of Player Personnel in 2003 . He helped Eagles coach Andy Reid assemble a team that went to four straight NFC Championship Game s from 2001 to 2004 , and to Super Bowl XXXIX . He was promoted to General Manager on January 2 , 2006 . However , he served mainly in an advisory role to Reid , who also serves as executive vice president of football operations and has the final say in football matters . During Heckert ’ s tenure with the Eagles , the team drafted or acquired 10 players who would go on to earn Pro Bowl status , including kicker David Akers , defensive lineman Trent Cole , wide receiver DeSean Jackson , offensive lineman Jason Peters , cornerback Asante Samuel and fullback Leonard Weaver , all of whom were selected to the 2010 Pro Bowl . Of the 22 Eagles starters at the end of the 2009 season , 13 were draft choices of the team during Heckert ’ s tenure while two more were signed as undrafted free agents . In fact , three players from the club ’ s 2009 draft class were among the 13 . Cleveland Browns . On January 11 , 2010 , Heckert became the General Manager of the Cleveland Browns . On Monday December 31 , 2012 , Heckert , along with head coach Pat Shurmur was relieved of his duties as Browns GM by the Browns owner Jimmy Haslam III . Despite posting by the Browns of a paltry record of 14 - 34 during his reign as Browns ' GM , Heckert , along with former team president Mike Holmgren , are credited by many NFL observers as paving the way for the team , which has the youngest team in the league , for quick improvement in the near future by overseeing solid drafts in the past three years in which they selected high draft prospects and potential All - Pro players such as defensive backs Joe Haden and T . J . Ward , wide receivers Greg Little , Travis Benjamin and Josh Gordon , defensive lineman Phil Taylor , running back Trent Richardson , and 2012 starting quarterback Brandon Weeden . NFL . Over the course of Heckert ’ s 22 - year NFL career , the teams with which he has been associated have experienced 14 winning seasons , won eight division titles and made 14 postseason trips , including six Conference Championship game appearances ( 1992 , 2001 – 04 , 2008 seasons ) , in addition to representing the NFC at Super Bowl XXXIX following the 2004 season . Heckert was appointed by the NFL to the College Advisory Committee in 2003 , which advises college football juniors on their draft status . He was named to the General Managers Advisory Committee in 2008 , which consults Commissioner Roger Goodell and the NFL football operations department on key issues regarding player development , scouting and technology . Personal . Heckert has a son , Griffin , and a daughter , Madison .