New Raiders General Manager Reggie McKenzie addresses the media. Photo by Tony Gonzales.
The Oakland Raiders introduced Reggie McKenzie as the team's new General Manager at a press conference at the team's facility.
McKenzie is the first General Manager of The Oakland Raiders since Al Davis was named Head Coach and General Manager in 1963.
McKenzie, who was a Raiders draft pick and played for the Silver and Black from 1985-88, enters his 26th year in the National Football league and first with the Raiders in an executive capacity after 18 years as a member of the Green Bay Packers' personnel department. McKenzie joined the Green Bay front office in 1994 and during his tenure the Packers captured eight division titles, three conference championships and won Super Bowls XXXI and XLV.
In Green Bay, McKenzie oversaw the team's scouting efforts of all professional football leagues, including the NFL, CFL and Arena Football League, as well as international players. He also played a key role in evaluating both players on the roster and potential free agents across the league. McKenzie was heavily involved in all of the team's transactions and tryouts on a daily basis.
McKenzie produced advance scouting reports on upcoming opponents, working closely with the head coach and his staff. He also contributed to the scouting of college prospects and worked in conjunction with the general manager in preparation for the annual draft.
He was promoted to director – football operations in 2008 after serving 10 years as the Packers' director of pro personnel. An NFL linebacker for seven seasons (1985- 90, 1992), the 49 year-old McKenzie was promoted to director of pro personnel by Packers Executive Vice President/ General Manager Ron Wolf in May 1997 after originally joining the Packers as a pro personnel assistant in 1994.
Selected by the Silver and Black as a 10th-round draft pick out of the University of Tennessee in 1985, McKenzie became an immediate starter on defense and went on to win all-rookie honors as the Raiders went 12-4 and won the AFC West. After four years (1985-88) with the Raiders (1985-88), McKenzie spent two seasons (1989-90) with the Phoenix Cardinals (1989-90) and one year with the San Francisco 49ers (1992).
Prior to signing with the 49ers, he played with the Montreal Machine of the World League of American Football (WLAF) in the spring of 1992. While out of football in 1991, McKenzie spent a season as a defensive coach for Dorsey High School in Los Angeles.
In 1993, McKenzie returned to Tennessee and served as an assistant under head coach Philip Fulmer. That year, the Volunteers appeared in the Florida Citrus Bowl and landed one of the nation's top recruiting classes, highlighted by QB Peyton Manning. While back in Knoxville, McKenzie also pursued a master's degree in education administration.
Born in Knoxville, Tenn., on Feb. 8, 1963, McKenzie earned a bachelor's degree in business administration with an emphasis in personnel management at Tennessee. A two-way football star at Austin East High School in Knoxville, McKenzie was valedictorian of his 1981 graduating class. His twin brother, Raleigh, also attended Tennessee and enjoyed a 16-year NFL career before retiring in 2001.
McKenzie and his wife, June, have two daughters, Jasmin, 19, who attends Wheaton College in Illinois and Mahkayla, 18, who will enroll at Duke University in the fall. He also has two sons, Reginald Kahlil, 15, and Jalen Elijah, 12.
