Bill Polian: Difference between revisions

{{shortShort description|American football executive (born 1942)}}

{{Infobox NFL playerbiography

| caption = Polian in November 2007

| birth_place = [[The Bronx, New York]], U.S.

| high_school = [[Mount Saint Michael Academy]]<br />([[The Bronx, New York]])

* [[KansasMontreal City ChiefsAlouettes]] ({{NFLCFL Year|1978}}–{{NFL Year1976|19821977}}) <br /> Scout

* [[MontrealKansas AlouettesCity Chiefs]] ({{NFL Year|1978|1982}}) <br /> Scout

* [[Winnipeg Blue Bombers]] ({{CFL Year|1984}}) <br /> Personnel director

* [[Chicago Blitz]] ({{USFL Year|19841983}}) <br /> Personnel director

* [[Buffalo Bills]] ({{NFL Year|1984}}–{{NFL Year|1985}}) <br /> Pro personnel director

* Buffalo Bills ({{NFL Year|1986}}–{{NFL Year|1992}}) <br /> General manager

* [[Carolina Panthers]] ({{NFL Year|1995}}–{{NFL Year|1997}}) <br /> General manager

* [[Indianapolis Colts]] ({{NFL Year|1998}}–{{NFL Year|2009}}) <br /> General manager and team president

* Indianapolis Colts ({{NFL Year|2009}}–{{NFL Year|2011}}) <br /> Team president

* [[Alliance of American Football]] ({{AAF Year|2019}}) <br /> Head of football

* [[Super Bowl]] champion]] ([[Super Bowl XLI|XLI]])

* [[Grey Cup]] champion ([[72nd Grey Cup|1984]])

* [[ProIndianapolis FootballColts HallRing of FameHonor]] inductee (2015)

* [[IndianapolisBuffalo ColtsBills RingWall of HonorFame]] (2017)

'''William Patrick Polian Jr.''' (born December 8, 1942) is an American former professional [[American football|football]] executive. He rose to league prominence as the [[Generalgeneral Managermanager]] of the [[Buffalo Bills]], building a team that participated in four straight [[Super Bowl]]s—the most consecutive appearances [[List of Super Bowl champions|by any team]]—but lost each time. Following his stint in Buffalo, Polian went on to become the Generalgeneral Managermanager of the expansion [[Carolina Panthers]]. He then served as general manager and team president of the [[Indianapolis Colts]] of the [[National Football League]] (NFL) from [[1998 Indianapolis Colts season|1998]] to [[2011 Indianapolis Colts season|2011]], where they reached two [[Super Bowl]]s, winning [[Super Bowl XLI|XLI]]. He subsequently served as an [[National Football League|NFL]] analyst for [[ESPN]]. Polian was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2015. Polian co-founded the now-defunct [[Alliance of American Football]] in 2018.

Polian began his career in professional football as a scout for the [[Montreal Alouettes in 1976, followed Marc Levy to the Kansas City Chiefs]] in 1978, eventually leaving the team in 1982 and joining the [[Chicago Blitz]] of the [[United States Football League]], as personnel director in 1983.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/chicago-bears/story-chicago-blitz-and-craziest-trade-sports-history|title=The story of the Chicago Blitz and the craziest trade in sports history|last=Garfien|first=Chuck|date=February 1, 2017|work=NBC Sports Chicago|access-date=September 6, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.profootballhof.com/players/bill-polian/biography/|title=Player BIO {{!}} Pro Football Hall of Fame Official Site|website=www.profootballhof.com|language=en|access-date=September 6, 2018}}</ref> The Blitz shut down in 1984, and Polian moved back to the [[Canadian Football League]], where he assembled a [[Grey Cup]] winning teamsteam with the [[Montreal Alouettes]] and [[Winnipeg Blue Bombers]].<ref name="Buffalo HoF">{{cite web|url=http://buffalosportshallfame.com/member/bill-polian/|title=Bill Polian|work=Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame|date=July 25, 2012 |access-date=May 4, 2015}}</ref> Early on in his career, he was a coach for the now defunct football teams at Manhattan College and the [[Trinity School (New York City)|Trinity School]], both in New York City.

Polian was Generalgeneral Managermanager for the [[Buffalo Bills]] from 1986 to 1992.<ref name="Buffalo HoF" /> When Polian was promoted to general manager of the Bills on December 30, 1985, the Bills were suffering from back-to-back 2–14 seasons and fan interest was at an all-time low. Polian was originally hired as director of pro personnel for the Bills on August 2, 1984. Polian was instrumental in the signing of [[Bruce Smith (defensive end)|Bruce Smith]] to his first NFL contract, after which he was promoted to GM in 1985.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.billszone.com/?page_id=371 | title=1985 Buffalo Bills – The Cornerstone | first=Bill | last=Choinski | website=BillsZone.com | access-date=September 1, 2018}}</ref> While GM of the Bills, Polian won the NFL Executive of the Year Award twice, in 1988 and in 1991.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://nflfootballjournal.blogspot.com/2015/02/things-you-can-never-lay-your-hands-on.html | title=NFL Executive of the Year Awards | first=John | last=Turney | date=February 20, 2018 | work=Pro Football Journal | access-date=September 1, 2018}}</ref> After the 1992 season, on February 4, 1993, after the Bills had appeared in, and lost, their 3rd straight Super Bowl, Polian was fired as general manager.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.buffalonews.com/POLIAN_FIRING_SHOCKS_PLAYERS_NONE_CAN_FIND_REASON_BEHIND_SUDDEN_MOVE.html | title=Polian firing shocks players | date=February 5, 1993 | work=[[The Buffalo News]] | last=Gaughan | first=Mark | access-date=May 12, 2016 | archive-url=https://wwwweb.webcitationarchive.org/6hRr0Q6Mr?url=web/20160512112352/http://www.buffalonews.com/POLIAN_FIRING_SHOCKS_PLAYERS_NONE_CAN_FIND_REASON_BEHIND_SUDDEN_MOVE.html | archive-date=May 12, 2016 | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.buffalonews.com/WILSON_CONFIRMS_aposFRICTIONapos_LED_TO_POLIAN_FIRING_OWNER_SAYS_CHANGE__ENDED_3_YEARS_OF_DIFFERENCES_PROBLEMS_WITH_LITTMANN_WERE_KEY.html | title=Wilson confirms 'friction' led to Polian firing | date=February 7, 1993 | work=[[The Buffalo News]] | last=Carucci | first=Vic | access-date=May 12, 2016 | archive-url=https://wwwweb.webcitationarchive.org/6hRrCQDBV?url=web/20160512112656/http://www.buffalonews.com/WILSON_CONFIRMS_aposFRICTIONapos_LED_TO_POLIAN_FIRING_OWNER_SAYS_CHANGE__ENDED_3_YEARS_OF_DIFFERENCES_PROBLEMS_WITH_LITTMANN_WERE_KEY.html | archive-date=May 12, 2016 | url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 2012, Polian became the 28th inductee into the [[Buffalo Bills#Buffalo Bills Wall of Fame|Buffalo Bills Wall of Fame]].

Polian was Generalgeneral Managermanager of the [[Carolina Panthers]] from 1995 to 1997.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2013/01/09/3775516/finally-carolina-panthers-give.html{{dead link|title=Finally, Carolina Panthers give Dave Gettleman his shot &#124; CharlotteObserver.com |website=www.charlotteobserver.com |access-date=November22 2016May 2022 |botarchive-url=InternetArchiveBothttps://archive.today/20130215173053/http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2013/01/09/3775516/finally-carolina-panthers-give.html |fixarchive-attempteddate=yes15 February 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> He tried to create the quickest Super Bowl winner in history, and nearly did so, building a team that went to the [[1996–97 NFL playoffs#NFC Championship: Green Bay Packers 30, Carolina Panthers 13|NFC Championship Game]] in only its second year of existence. This feat led him to a promotion, becoming not just the GM, but the Presidentpresident of the Indianapolis Colts.

In 1998, Polian was hired as Presidentpresident and decided to build through the draft as the [[Indianapolis Colts]] would have the numberNo. 1 overall pick for 1998; the Colts picked [[Peyton Manning]]. In 2002, Polian hired head coach [[Tony Dungy]].

During his tenure, the Colts led the NFL with eight consecutive playoff appearances and seven consecutive seasons of 12 or more regular-season victories. They won seven division titles (1999, 2003–07, 09), won [[Super Bowl XLI]] against the [[Chicago Bears]], and made a second Super Bowl appearance in [[Super Bowl XLIV]] but would lose to the [[New Orleans Saints]] under coach [[Jim Caldwell (American football)|Jim Caldwell]]. From 2000–092000 to 2009, the Colts (115–45) set the NFL mark for most wins in a decade, and their nine playoff berths tied the NFL record set by [[Dallas Cowboys|Dallas]] in the 1970s. Polian stepped down as general manager in 2009, being succeeded by his son [[Chris Polian|Chris]], but remained with the team as president and vice-chairman.

In 2006, according to [[Jay Glazer]] of FOX Sports, Polian reportedly shoved a [[New York Jets]] employee by pinning him against a wall, for placing speakers too close to the field during warmups.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://archive.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2006/11/03/to_battle_on_and_about_the_field/ | title=To battle, on and about the field | first=Dan | last=Shaugnessy | work=The Boston Globe | date=November 3, 2006 | access-date=September 2, 2018}}</ref> The league required Polian to issue a written apology to the Jets employee.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://articleswww.latimes.com/2006archives/la-xpm-2006-oct/-22/sports/-sp-afcnotes22-story.html | title=Unable, and perhaps unwilling, to perform | first=Sam | last=Farmer | date=October 22, 2006 | work=Los Angeles Times | access-date=September 2, 2018}}</ref>

Polian and his son Chris were fired by owner [[Jim Irsay]] after the Colts finished with a 2–14 record in the 2011 season.<ref>{{cite news | title=Peyton Manning: Firing 'very tough' | url=httphttps://espnwww.goespn.com/nfl/story/_/id/7414912/polians-relieved-duties-indianapolis-colts-source-says | publisherwork=[[ESPN.com]] | date=January 3, 2012 | access-date=September 2, 2018}}</ref>

=== Alliance of American Football and other ventures===

In March 2018, Polian announced the creation of an [[Season (sports)|off-season]] professional football league, called the [[Alliance of American Football]], which he co-founded with [[Charlie Ebersol]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://deadline.com/2018/03/new-pro-football-league-aaliance-of-american-football-cbs-dick-ebersol-bill-polian-1202349754/|title=New Pro Football League Leapfrogs XFL, Unveils Plans For 2019 Kickoff & CBS Deal|last=Pedersen|first=Erik|date=March 20, 2018|work=Deadline|access-date=September 6, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref> The league began playing in February 2019, with television broadcasts produced by [[CBS Sports]], and airing on [[CBS]], [[CBS Sports Network]], [[TNT_TNT (U.S._TV_network TV network)|TNT]], and [[NFL Network]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://variety.com/2018/digital/news/alliance-american-football-league-cbs-2019-charlie-ebersol-1202731190/|title=New Pro Football League Sets 2019 Debut With CBS Sports Pact|last=Spangler|first=Todd|date=March 20, 2018|work=Variety|access-date=September 6, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref> On April 2, 2019, the league's football operations were suspended by controlling owner [[Thomas Dundon]], who purchased his stake in the league shortly after it began play.<ref>{{cite news |author=Kercheval, Ben |title=AAF operations suspended, league's future in doubt after eight games of first season |url=https://www.cbssports.com/aaf/news/aaf-operations-reportedly-suspended-leagues-future-in-doubt-after-eight-games-of-first-season/ |website=cbssports.com |date=April 2, 2019 |access-date=2019-04-02}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|agency=[[ESPN]]|url=http://www.espn.com/espn/story/_/id/26423928/source-aaf-immediately-suspend-operations|title=AAF to immediately suspend operations|publisher=[[ESPN]]|date=April 2, 2019|access-date=April 2, 2019}}</ref>

Polian is married to Eileen and has four kids: Lynn, [[Chris Polian|Chris]], [[Brian Polian|Brian]], and Dennis. Polian has nine grandkids: Annie, William, Jack, Caroline, Kate, Aidan, Charlotte, Finn, and Millie. <ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.lifeofdad.com/bill-polian-my-life-of-dad/|title=Bill Polian - My Life of Dad - Life of Dad|date=October 20, 2014|work=Life of Dad|access-date=September 6, 2018|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180907032510/https://www.lifeofdad.com/bill-polian-my-life-of-dad/|archive-date=September 7, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/nfl/colts/2015/07/30/bill-polians-colts-perennial-laugher-perennial-contender/30872543/|title=How Polian turned the Colts and became a Hall of Famer|last=Keefer|first=Zak|work=Indianapolis Star|access-date=September 6, 2018|language=en}}</ref> Polian joined [[ESPN]] in 2012 as an NFL analyst.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://espnmediazone.com/us/bios/polian_bill/ | title=Bill Polian: NFL Front Office Insider | website=ESPNMediaZone.com | access-date=September 2, 2018}}</ref>