The St. Louis Rams’ front office recently named Elon alumnus and former football player Billy Devaney the team’s General Manager. Devaney, who played the 1975-77 seasons with Elon, joined the Rams’ staff in February and was promoted to GM on Christmas Eve.
Devaney’s responsibilities include the college draft, free agents, trades and all personnel transactions.
“One of the best things that happened to the Rams during this difficult season was the hiring of Billy Devaney to our front office team,” Rams owner/chairman Chip Rosenbloom said. “We are very fortunate to have someone with Billy’s character and intelligence taking control of the football side of this organization. Lucia (Rodriguez), Stan (Kroenke) and I look forward to working with Billy as the new General Manager of the Rams.”
After originally attending Biscayne College in Miami to play baseball, Devaney realized that he wanted to play college football and there was no team at Biscayne.
While in Miami and attending mass each morning before class, Devaney struck up a friendship with Miami Dolphins coach Don Shula. Shula suggested that a Dophins’ scout, Bobby Beathard, could help him find a college where he could play football.
Devaney ended up at Elon and moved from cornerback to strong safety.
While at Elon, Devaney stayed in touch with Beathard and continued a friendship with him. When Beathard earned the job of General Manager of the Washington Redskins, he hired Devaney as a scout. Devaney worked for the Redskins for 11 seasons and then followed Beathard to San Diego as director of player personnel.
After San Diego, Devaney spent three seasons with the San Francisco 49ers and two seasons working as an analyst for CBS’ NFL pregame show before heading back into the NFL in Atlanta.
Prior to moving to St. Louis, Devaney served as a personnel executive under Rich McKay with the Atlanta Falcons for two seasons.
Devaney was profiled in the fall 2008 Magazine of Elon.