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SITE NEWS: Andrew Healy Moves On

It's time to say goodbye to another member of the Football Outsiders staff as he moves on to bigger and better things, but this one is kind of special.

Andrew Healy will be leaving both Football Outsiders and the economics department at Loyola Marymount University to join the front office of the Cleveland Browns. He becomes the first person from our staff to join an NFL franchise. His official title is Senior Strategist for Player Personnel, and he'll be working with Sashi Brown, Paul DePodesta, and all those guys as they try to end Cleveland's long string of losing seasons.

And you thought we were kidding with that line in the Cleveland chapter of FOA 2016 about the staff of FO going to work for the Browns?

Actually, we were kidding. Rob Weintraub wrote his original rough draft of that chapter before the Browns even contacted Andrew.

I've always taken pride in my "coaching tree" of former FO writers who have prominent roles around the world of NFL journalism. This adds a unique branch to the tree. It's important for us to still be honest and objective in our analysis of Cleveland's personnel moves, but I can't lie, I certainly would like for Andrew and his team to be successful. (Scott Kacsmar and Rob Weintraub may feel differently.)

Sterling Xie will be taking over the Any Given Sunday column this season, and we'll have news soon on new writers for Scramble for the Ball. (Scramble for the Ball: the True Detective of Football Outsiders columns!)

Comments

22 comments, Last at 19 Aug 2016, 7:47pm

6 Re: SITE NEWS: Andrew Healy Moves On

Congratulations to Andrew. Now I have to go back and see where I was right and Andrew wrong, so I can brag that I'm better at football rightitude than a real NFL front office executive. It was easier when Matt Millen still worked for the Lions.

On a wholly sincere note, Aaron, you should be very, very, proud of the platform that has helped launch so many NFL-related careers. THAT is really a terrific accomplishment for a small business owner like yourself. In a very real sense, this is the stuff that makes the world a better place. Congratulations.

10 Re: SITE NEWS: Andrew Healy Moves On

by Topas // Aug 12, 2016 - 4:38am

Wow, I guess Browns will be one of my secondary teams now. I have a soft spot for them anyway, since I am a Bills fan, the Browns are my companions in misery. Although these bastards now have an NBA title. Anyway, best of luck Andrew. Go Browns...

11 Re: SITE NEWS: Andrew Healy Moves On

Wow, that is very cool. Congrats to Andrew and kudos to Aaron for building the platform to launch Andrew's football career.

I have a soft spot for the Browns like many others and this will be all the more reason to root for them to turn it around.

14 Re: SITE NEWS: Andrew Healy Moves On

Thanks very much to everyone for the kind words. And a particular thanks to Aaron. I feel very fortunate to have had the chance to benefit from both his insane football knowledge and uncommon generosity.

20 Re: SITE NEWS: Andrew Healy Moves On

Andrew. Just wondering - will you get to use econometric techniques and will the organization take them seriously? I like to think of econometrics as the most circumspect of all statistical disciplines as we are much more interested in isolating casuality from correlation. its remarkable how much football statistics mimic panel data of gpd or say income per capita across countries or counties.

16 Re: SITE NEWS: Andrew Healy Moves On

by Willsy // Aug 14, 2016 - 12:38am

Imagine when someone has to explain the Johnny Football pick to him,

"And then the owner said 'nah lets pick Johnny Football' and so they all lived happily ever after."

A bit like "don't mention the war" in Fawlty Towers.