CHARLOTTE – The interim tag has been removed from Marty Hurney's title.
Hurney has been selected to be the Carolina Panthers' general manager on a full-time basis, reprising the role he held from 2002-12. Jimmy Raye III, Lake Dawson and Martin Mayhew also interviewed for the position.
"We are very fortunate to have Marty as our general manager after he did an exceptional job in the interim role this past season." Panthers COO Tina Becker said. "Marty's guidance and vision helped build the foundation for this team, and his work this season was instrumental in returning the team to the playoffs. We believe he will continue to craft a roster that will win games and contend for a championship."
Installed in place of Dave Gettleman shortly before training camp this past season, Hurney helped the Panthers bounce back from a losing season to go 11-5 and earn a playoff berth. In his interim role, Hurney already had been charged with directing the Panthers' offseason plans in regards to the roster, and now he'll be around to see how the changes play out.
"I have always felt a strong connection to this organization and viewed this job as one of the very best in the NFL because of the people here," Hurney said. "Mr. Richardson and Tina have been open and honest with me from the beginning, and I am thankful for the trust they have placed in me. I gained a lot of perspective being away and then back in an interim role last season. I feel that I am the best person to help Ron and this team moving forward. We have a really special core of players in place, and I'm extremely excited about the direction we are headed."
Hurney's last draft in 2012 netted linebacker Luke Kuechly with the ninth overall pick and cornerback Josh Norman in the fifth round, but Hurney was relieved of his duties midway through a disappointing 2012 season. In 2011, Hurney and the Panthers opened the draft by selecting quarterback Cam Newton with the No. 1 pick. His first draft, in 2002, began with defensive end Julius Peppers being selected No. 2. Subsequent drafts landed first-round gems like offensive tackle Jordan Gross (2003), cornerback Chris Gamble (2004), linebackers Thomas Davis (2005) and Jon Beason (2007) and running backs DeAngelo Williams (2006) and Jonathan Stewart (2008).
In Hurney's first stint as general manager, which spanned 10 seasons and part of an 11th, the Panthers made three playoff appearances, won an NFC Championship, claimed two NFC South titles, appeared in two NFC Championship games and played in Super Bowl XXXVIII.
This past season added another playoff appearance to Hurney's credentials. He signed Pro Bowl guard Trai Turner to an extension through the 2021 season days after returning to the GM role, and on roster cutdown day he traded wide receiver Kaelin Clay and a 2019 seventh-round pick to the Bills for cornerback Kevon Seymour (the Panthers eventually re-signed Clay). Midway through the season, Hurney secured third- and seventh-round picks in the upcoming draft by trading wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin to the Bills.
Hurney originally joined the Panthers organization in 1998 as director of football administration and then spent three seasons as director of football operations before taking over as GM. His NFL career began with Washington in 1988 and after two seasons continued in San Diego before he came to Carolina.
