Alonzo Highsmith Leaves Seahawks to Be Miami's GM of Football Operations

The general manager of football operations at Miami is returning to his alma mater, where he was a student.

The head coach of the Miami Hurricanes said that Alonzo is a true Miami Hurricane. His passion for the University of Miami is unparalleled.

The school said Highsmith will work directly with Cristobal to support all administrative functions of the football program, including budget-related items, culture building, and working directly with staff members both on and off the field.

He had worked in the front offices of the Green Bay Packers, Cleveland Browns, and Seattle Seahawks, as well as playing six years in the NFL.

Highsmith is revered by Hurricanes fans.

He had 2,850 yards from scrimmage and 25 touchdown in four years at Miami. He helped the program win a national championship in 1983 and ushered in the era of The U.

When Ed Reed was hired as Miami's chief of staff in January 2020, his predecessor did the same thing. There is a distinction between the two.

He will be playing on the nostalgia of the most successful era of the Hurricanes when he returns. He has the ability to reestablish the culture that will separate Miami from its competitors.

With name, image and likeness legislation and the one-time transfer rule changing the college landscape, hiring a defined general manager is becoming more important.

Albert Breer @AlbertBreer

Seahawks executive Alonzo Highsmith is starting next week as football GM at his alma mater, Miami. Highsmith's going into a position more big-time programs are incorporating—with an exec-type having all-encompassing oversight.

Should make Mario Cristobal's job easier, too.

Josh Edwards @EdwardsCBS

Miami's hire of Alonzo Highsmith will probably fly under the radar but end up being an important de facto NFL GM role where he dabbles in personnel evaluation and 'salary cap' management.

Recent history shows that the head coach alone can only do so much to return the program to prominence, and that's what Miami was able to do with the MzE MzE MzE MzE MzE MzE MzE MzE MzE MzE MzE MzE MzE MzE MzE MzE MzE MzE MzE MzE MzE MzE MzE MzE MzE MzE

The move to bring Highsmith back to Coral Gables continues the university's moves to bring in the necessary infrastructure behind the scenes.