NFL Exec Dawn Aponte Reportedly Contacted by ‘Several’ Teams About GM Vacancies

Dawn Aponte, the NFL’s chief football administrator, is getting some buzz for general manager vacancies.

Dianna Russini of The Athletic reported that Aponte has “been in contact” with several teams and could become the first woman in league history to lead a team’s football operations department.

“We told you back on Thanksgiving that Dawn Aponte, the league’s chief football administrative officer, was generating interest as a candidate for general manager jobs,” Russini wrote. “A year ago, she interviewed with the Chargers for the position that eventually went to Joe Hortiz. Now, a year later, she’s already been in contact with several teams. If Aponte is hired, she’d be the first woman to run an NFL team’s football operations.”

Aponte has been in her current position since 2017 and was the league’s vice president of labor finance from 2006-08. She has also worked in administrative roles for the New York Jets, Cleveland Browns and Miami Dolphins, with her highest position being the executive vice president of football operations for the Dolphins.

She is currently the highest-ranking woman in NFL operations and interviewed for the Los Angeles Chargers general manager position last offseason. The only current general manager opening is the Jets, with whom Aponte started her career.