WASHINGTON — The Washington Commanders have chosen Adam Peters as the new general manager. The two parties have come to a terms agreement on Friday. The team tells WUSA9 Peters signed the contract with the team Monday.
The 44-year-old California native was selected for the front office role after meeting with Commanders Owner Josh Harris and his advisory team last week at Harris’s home in Miami, Florida. He was being interviewed for the head of football operations position but was hired with the title of general manager. According to a team source, the rest of the front office will be evaluated in the coming days, including the future of the Commanders current GM, Martin Mayhew.
Peters was rumored to have been contracted earlier in the hiring process, but that rumor was deemed false by the WUSA9 Verify team. On Friday, the Commanders confirmed Peters was joining the team.
“I am incredibly grateful to Josh Harris and the Washington Commanders ownership group for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Peters said in a press release Monday. “My family and I are thrilled for the chance to be a part of the DMV community and look forward to connecting with such a storied, passionate Commanders’ fan base. I am eternally grateful to the York family, John Lynch, Kyle Shanahan and the entire 49ers organization for an amazing experience. Throughout my career in the NFL, I’ve learned that successful organizations begin with a strong ownership group willing to commit the resources needed to foster a culture of winning. We have that here in Washington and it’s my responsibility and privilege to carry out the mission of delivering a team that will ultimately compete for Super Bowls. I know how much the Commanders mean to our fans, our owners, the legends who paved the way for this franchise, and the NFL. The work starts now.”
Peters most recently worked as the assistant general manager for the San Francisco 49ers. He's been John Lynch's right-hand man since Lynch became San Francisco's GM in 2017. Peters has been with the NFL for more than 20 years. Before joining the 49ers, he spent eight seasons with the Denver Broncos.
In addition to his assistant general manager background, Peters spent years recruiting for the Broncos. Between 2011 and 2013, Peters was a national scout and in 2016 was named the Broncos director of college scouting after spending two seasons as the team's assistant director of college scouting.
During his time with the team, Peters helped the Broncos acquire 27 players through the draft and college free agency. Many of those players would go on to be vital members of the Super Bowl 50 championship team.
Before joining the Broncos, Peters spend six seasons with the New England Patriots. In his first two seasons with the team, 2003 and 2004, the Patriots went to the Super Bowl.
With his skill and knowledge, Peters was one of the most sought-after front-office men in the league. Other teams interested in him for their general manager vacancies included the Las Vegas Raiders and Los Angeles Chargers.
In a press conference last week, Harris said his team — including sports executives Bob Myers and Rick Spielman — were looking to make separate hires for the front office and head coach positions, rather than have one person do both jobs.
“My orientation’s not to do that, but on the other hand, I’m going to really be somewhat flexible around talent,” Harris said. “Being the head of football operations, being in essence in that lead role, that’s an 80-hour-a-week job. Being a head coach, that’s an 80-hour-a-week job. I think there are two roles there.”
With the front office job taken care of, now the focus shifts to the head coach opening. The Commanders have requested interviews with a number of candidates for the position since Rivera was relieved of duties.
One head coach candidate that won't be on that list is former New England Patriots skipper Bill Belichick, according to sources in the Commanders organization. The Patriots parted ways with Belichick Thursday after 24 years.
There are eight head coach vacancies across the NFL, currently.
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