Miami football legend Dan Morgan, the Hurricanes’ all-time leading tackler, is on track to become a general manager in his post-playing career. The Carolina Panthers hired Morgan as their assistant general manager on Saturday. Morgan was most recently the Buffalo Bills director of player personnel from 2018-2020.
Morgan spent his entire seven-year NFL career with Carolina with the exception of initially signing with the New Orleans Saints for the 2008 NFL season but never played with them after retiring with injuries. Morgan began his post-NFL career as a scouting intern with the Seattle Seahawks in 2010.
Morgan ascended to assistant director of pro personnel with Seattle from 2011–2014. Seattle promoted Morgan to director of pro personnel in 2015 in a position he remained in through 2017. Morgan left Seattle to become the director of player personnel. Morgan remained in that position until this weekend.
Morgan was the 11th pick overall in the 2001 NFL Draft with Carolina after his Miami football career. During his four years with the Hurricanes, Morgan had 532 tackles was a unanimous All-American in 2000 and also named first-team All-Big East, the Big East Defensive Player of the Year (2000 and won several national awards.
Big moves only, @DanMorganJr! https://t.co/6bR3Yq0lJc
— Miami Hurricanes Football (@CanesFootball) May 8, 2021
Morgan was the Butkus Award winner in 2000 as the nation’s best linebacker, won the Nagurski Trophy and Bednarik Award as the nation’s best defensive players. Earlier this year, Morgan was named to the College Football Hall of Fame 2021. Morgan will be working for Panthers GM Scott Fitterer.
Fitterer was a scout with Seattle and then the director of college scouting when Morgan worked for the Seahawks. The connection with Fitterer was important in the development of Morgan’s post-playing career. Morgan spoke to the Panthers website in January explaining the importance of Fitterer in his career.
"“He was very helpful to me when I first got there…All those guys were really good with me early on, but he took me under his wing when I was new and was willing to let me pick his brain about college scouting and what he did.”"
Morgan was part of a Buffalo organization that improved from 6-10 in 2018 to 13-3 and an AFC Championship Game appearance after last season. During Morgan’s tenure in Buffalo, the Bills drafted franchise quarterback Josh Allen and running back Devin Singletary from FAU who started every game in 2020.
Morgan was also on the Seattle staff when they drafted future Pro Football Hall of Fame QB Russell. With the aptitude that Morgan has shown for evaluating talent, he is on track to become a future GM. Morgan is currently the highest-ranking former Miami football player in an NFL front office.