Catherine Raîche has never hidden her dream of becoming general manager of an NFL team and the Quebecer is taking one more step towards her dearest wish. The Minnesota Vikings want to meet the one who has been on their list of candidates for the vacant position since Monday.
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It’s hard to doubt the source of the news, since it was the most connected NFL informant, Adam Schefter of the ESPN network, who leaked the information overnight from Wednesday to Thursday.
According to him, the Vikings have asked the Eagles for permission to meet Raîche, who holds the position of vice-president of football operations within the organization.
To date, only one woman has held a general manager role in the NFL, being Susan Tose Spencer with the Eagles in 1983.
A confident mentor
Former Alouettes and Argonauts general manager Jim Popp was the first to open the doors of professional football to Raîche, in Montreal. She then followed him to Toronto and the veteran football man believes that the Vikings would strike a blow by hiring his former protege.
“Some will say she is young (32 years old), but I am convinced that she is the best prepared candidate for this job. She already has a lot of experience,” said Popp, in an interview with The newspaper.
A great experience
In addition to his background in the Canadian League, Popp believes that the last three years in the Eagles organization are a major asset for Raîche.
“In Philadelphia, owner Jeffrey Lurie and general manager Howie Roseman are good football minds who like to teach their staff the basics. She was well surrounded and rose through the ranks.
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“I’ve interviewed five times for general manager positions in the NFL myself and each time I’ve been criticized for my lack of experience in the league. Catherine has this experience in the NFL”, insisted Popp, who would see Raîche in a “solid organization” like the Vikings.
Several candidates
Obviously, it is not because the Vikings grant an interview to the Quebecer that she is guaranteed to land the coveted position.
the Minneapolis Star Tribune mentioned several candidates who have obtained or who will also obtain interviews.
This list includes two members of the Browns, namely vice-president of operations Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and vice-president of player personnel Glenn Cook.
Patriots personnel consultant Eliot Wolf, son of legendary Packers general manager Ron Wolf, is also included. The Vikings have also asked the Chiefs for permission to meet with their director of player personnel Ryan Poles.
Buccaneers vice president of player personnel John Spytek, as well as a colleague of Raiche at the Eagles, director of player personnel Brandon Brown, are also involved.
“Football remains a male-dominated sport, but the barriers are falling. The NFL has done a good job of getting things moving. There will definitely be a general manager one day and I hope it will be Catherine. She deserves it and if it’s not with the Vikings, she will have other opportunities, ”concluded Jim Popp.
Catherine Raîche’s roadmap
- 2015 to 2017 | Montreal Alouettes, CFL (Football Administration Coordinator)
- 2017 | Montreal Alouettes, CFL (Assistant to the General Manager)
- 2018-2019 | Argonauts de Toronto, LCF (Head of Football Administration)
- 2019 | Vipers de Tampa Bay, XFL (Director of Football Operations)
- 2019 to 2021 | Philadelphia Eagles, NFL (Player Personnel Coordinator)
- 2021 to today | Philadelphia Eagles, NFL (Vice President of Football Operations)
