Advertisement

Brock Sunderland unveiled as new GM and VP of Football Operations for Edmonton Eskimos

Click to play video: 'One-on-one interview with new Eskimos GM Brock Sunderland'
One-on-one interview with new Eskimos GM Brock Sunderland
WATCH ABOVE: He's been at the past two Grey Cups with the Ottawa Redblacks and now Brock Sunderland hopes to do the same with the Edmonton Eskimos. Quinn Phillips chats with the team's new general manager – Apr 25, 2017

The Edmonton Eskimos officially unveiled Brock Sunderland as their new General Manager and Vice President of Football Operations at a press conference on Tuesday.

The new hiring comes shortly after former GM Ed Hervey was dismissed by the club on Friday, April 7, as well as just under two weeks before the commencement of the 2017 CFL Draft.

Esks President and CEO Len Rhodes introduces Sunderland to the media on Tuesday, April 26. Mike Still / Global News
“We were not going to compromise finding the right candidate for the sake of timing. However, the process was very fluid, and last Friday afternoon, things accelerated as we placed an offer [to Sunderland] late that day, entered into negotiations and came to an agreement late that same night,” Eskimos President and CEO Len Rhodes said.
Story continues below advertisement

READ MORE: Edmonton Eskimos fire GM Ed Hervey over philosophical differences, contract negotiation issues

Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.

Get daily National news

Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

At 37 years old, Sunderland — a native of Great Falls, Montana — becomes the youngest GM in the league. His knowledge of the professional game both North and South of the border is extensive.

Sunderland speaks to the media for the first time as GM and VP of Football Operations on Tuesday, April 26. Mike Still / Global News

He grew up learning the game at a young age, as his father Marv spent 41 years as a professional football scout. Sunderland would frequently watch scouting film with his father and first accompanied him on a trip to New York Jets training camp when he was just nine years old.

Following in his father’s footsteps, Sunderland began his professional football journey as regional/advanced scout for the Montreal Alouettes in 2004. He then worked his way up to director of scouting for three seasons with the Als, starting in 2005.

Story continues below advertisement

In 2007, he made the move to the NFL, where he served as a pro scout for the NFL’s New York Jets for six years. Then, in May 2013, he was appointed as the assistant general manager of the current Grey Cup champion Ottawa Redblacks.

READ MORE: Edmonton Eskimos receiver Nate Coehoorn announces retirement

Despite his prior experiences, Sunderland says he’s going into his new position with an open mind.

“I’m not going to try and invoke anything unique in here or different, simply to do it,” he said.

“If there’s a need I’ll go back to my experiences… you become better when you’re around different people and you become a sponge and try and take all those different ideas of where you’ve been.”

The Eskimos have a rich history of winning, and expectations are high considering the team’s results over the past few seasons, however Sunderland is focused on managing only what he can control.

“Expectations come with pro football. Obviously I’ve grown up around this game and no one puts more pressure on themselves to succeed than I do, so I think any outside source of expectations will ever trump our [the Eskimos] own expectations inside the building.”
Advertisement

Sponsored content

AdChoices