Beane Takes The Reins As Gm

Versatile executive joins McDermott to lead front office.

- Mark Ludwiczak

After rising up the ranks over the past two decades, Brandon Beane did a little bit of everything for the Carolina Panthers.

“He was a GM in everything but title,” Bills owner Terry Pegula said.

Now that title is officially his. On May 9, Beane became Buffalo’s 13th general manager in team history.

“This is an awesome opportunity and I can’t wait to get started,” Beane said. “It’s been a long road.”

In Beane, the Bills added someone who has experience in all the key facets of being a top executive in the NFL — scouting, personnel and contracts. And he also has a close and well-established relationship with new Bills head coach Sean McDermott after working together in Carolina over the past six years.

“Brandon embodies everything we at the Bills want in our front office,” Pegula said. “He was highly regarded around the NFL. The Panthers loved him. He’s versatile, he’s done it all in the front office. He’s dedicated, as evidenced by his 19 years with the franchise. He’s smart, humble, a hard worker and a team-player.”

The 40-year-old took an unconventional path to the top but was a key figure in Carolina’s many successes. During his time in Carolina, the Panthers won five NFC South Division titles and two NFC conference championships, most recently going to the Super Bowl in 2015.

He joined the Panthers as a communications intern in 1998 before shifting to working in football operations and personnel. Beane worked his way up to become director of football operations for seven seasons before being named assistant general manager in 2015, which was his role for the past three seasons.