Browns name Jamil Northcutt director of player engagement
BEREA, Ohio -- The Cleveland Browns on Friday named Dr. Jamil Northcutt director of player engagement. General Manager Ray Farmer made the announcement.
"Jamil has no dearth of knowledge," Farmer said. "His role is to support our players, so he's a very important hire. Not only does he bring experience in the field of NFL player engagement, he's also going to be a very positive influence in our community. He's the kind of person we want representing our organization. He's an all-around Browns fit. The core of the man is excellence."
"I'm truly excited about joining the Browns organization," Northcutt said. "I am very thankful to the Haslam Family, Ray Farmer and Mike Pettine for trusting me with this opportunity. I look forward to making a meaningful contribution to the organization. Most importantly, my desire is to have a positive impact on our players and help them reach their full potential on and off the field, and find their purpose in life."
Northcutt comes to the Browns after serving six years (2008-14) as assistant athletics director for internal operations at the University of Mississippi.
Before that position at his alma mater, Northcutt spent three years (2005-08) with the Kansas City Chiefs as player development coordinator. In that role, he served as liaison between players and coaches, administrators and external resources. Northcutt also managed the career-internship, continuing-education and financial-education programs for players.
Prior to joining the Chiefs, Northcutt worked for the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and served in three departments, championships, sports administration and marketing.
A member of the Ole Miss football team from 1999-2003, Northcutt earned the 2003 Chucky Mullins Courage Award and helped the Rebels finish his senior year 10-3, capping his tenure with a fourth bowl trip, a Cotton Bowl victory. A 6-foot-2, 235-pound player, he didn't miss a game over his final two seasons.
Selected to the 2003 American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and SEC Good Works teams, Northcutt also received the SEC Community Service Postgraduate Scholarship. He also excelled in the classroom, garnering SEC academic honor roll each of his four years of eligibility.
Northcutt owns three degrees from Ole Miss. He earned his bachelor's degree in exercise science in May 2003 and his master's in higher education and administration in December 2004. He then completed his doctorate in higher education (administration) in August of 2013.
He and his wife, Kimberly, also an Ole Miss graduate, were married in July 2006. They have a son, Kellen Josiah, and a daughter, Laylah Elise.
