Grigson named Executive of Year

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (WLFI) - Sporting News announced on Monday that former Purdue Boilermaker and Indianapolis Colts general manager, Ryan Grigson has been named the NFL Executive of the Year.

“It’s truly an honor to be recognized for this award and I’m thankful to all of my peers who considered me for this accolade,” said Colts General Manager Ryan Grigson. “Our success this season encompassed the entire organization, including the unwavering support from Mr. Irsay, the dedication of the entire scouting department, the leadership of the coaching staff and the gutsy performance of our players week in and week out. I also owe a big debt of gratitude to my wife, Cynthia, and my five children who sacrificed so much in my first year as general manager. This was a very special season and the courage shown by Chuck and this team will be etched in me and the entire Colts family for a lifetime. This year was a stepping stone en route to our ultimate goal - hoisting the Lombardi Trophy together. We’re going to continue to work tirelessly until we reach that objective. ”

“I am thrilled for Ryan Grigson on winning The Sporting News NFL Executive of the Year award,” said Colts Owner & CEO Jim Irsay. “This was a challenging year in anyone’s book, but Ryan is one of the hardest workers I know, and his dedication paid off. We knew we had someone special when we hired Ryan a year ago, and he is extremely deserving of this honor.”

“I’m very excited for Ryan and when you consider what he had to do this season from a personnel standpoint, this award is particularly well-deserved,” said Colts Head Coach Chuck Pagano. “He compiled a remarkable draft class and consistently maintained our roster with able bodies as the year went on and we had to deal with injuries. Ryan was steadfast in his decision making and did a phenomenal job through difficult circumstances. He has outstanding vision and passion, which are two essential traits that he’ll use as he continues to build this team for sustained success.”

Grigson earned the honor by receiving a 9-8 vote by a panel of league executives and coaches.

Denver Broncos general manager, John Elway finished in second place.

Grigson drafted Andrew Luck, Coby Fleener, Dwayne Allen, T.Y. Hilton, and Vick Ballard this season. All of those players played major roles in the Colts 11-5 record this season after a dismal 2-14 campaign last year.