Alonzo Highsmith Gets Added to New England’s Front Office

Alonzo Highsmith is set to leave his job at the University of Miami (Fla.) to join the New England Patriots front office. The Athletic was the first to report the hire.

Highsmith has been the general manager for the Miami Hurricanes football program since 2022. He has worked in NFL front offices for 23 years, beginning as a college scout for the Green Bay Packers in 1999 working under Hall of Fame general manager Ron Wolf. In 2012 he became an executive with the Packers. He remained in that role for five seasons.

The Cleveland Browns hired Alonzo Highsmith as their vice president of player personnel in 2018. He remained in Cleveland for two seasons, before leaving to join the Seattle Seahawks (2020-2022).

Eliot Wolf was Highsmith’s co-worker in both Green Bay and Cleveland. This is the fourth hire New England has made this offseason with connections to Wolf. Alex Van Pelt, Ben McAdoo, and Jerry Montgomery all worked with Wolf as well. These hirings make it apparent that Eliot Wolf is acting as the defacto general manager in Foxboro.

Highsmith is a member of the University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame. He was a fullback for the Hurricanes, helping them to win the 1983 National Championship with an Orange Bowl upset win over Nebraska. He also played alongside Heisman Trophy winner Vinny Testaverde for Miami.

The Houston Oilers drafted Highsmith with the No. 3 overall selection of the 1987 NFL Draft. He was one of seven backs selected in the first round that year. Unfortunately, knee injuries shortened Highsmith’s production as a pro, and was out of the league after six seasons.

Alonzo Highsmith joins Eliot Wolf and Matt Groh in the New England Patriots front office. He is the first non-coaching hire to the staff since the departure of Bill Belichick.