From Humble Beginnings to the Big Leagues: How Dave Ziegler Made It to the NFL
February 26, 2023
Hunter Macias
Discover the Inspiring Path that Led Dave Ziegler to the NFL: A Must-Read for Las Vegas Raiders Fans! From High School Guidance Counselor to General Manager, Ziegler's Journey is Nothing Short of Remarkable. Join us for a Sneak Peek into His Unconventional Career Path and Learn What it Takes to Succeed in the NFL!
Las Vegas Raiders
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Dave Ziegler's Unconventional Journey to Becoming a Las Vegas Raiders GM
Early Career
Dave Ziegler, the general manager of the Las Vegas Raiders, has a remarkable story of how he made it to the NFL. In an episode of "Bussin' With The Boys" podcast, Ziegler opened up about his unconventional career path, which was influenced by his love for football and his passion for helping people. Before becoming a high school guidance counselor at Chaparral High School in Scottsdale, Arizona, Ziegler was a social studies teacher and a high school football coach. However, football had always been his number one passion. He played the sport throughout high school and college, albeit at a small college.
After realizing his love for college football, Ziegler decided to become a graduate assistant at John Carroll University, where he coached receivers for two years. He then moved to Iona in New Rochelle, New York, where he coached wide receivers and special teams while completing his master's degree in counseling.
Career in the NFL
In 2009, Ziegler received an offer from his friend and former teammate Josh McDaniels, who was in his second year as head coach of the Denver Broncos, to work as a scout.
"I didn’t really even know what scouting was about, to be honest with you," Ziegler said. "Like I had been a fan of the NFL, but when you’re growing up, you don’t really know that there’s a scouting department and how it’s all built on the other side."
Despite having been an NFL fan, Ziegler was unsure about what scouting involved, having never worked in that capacity before. Eventually, Ziegler joined the Broncos in 2009 as a scouting assistant, working under then-head coach Josh McDaniels. He quickly impressed the coaching staff with his work ethic and his eye for talent, and he was soon promoted to the role of pro personnel coordinator. In that role, Ziegler was responsible for scouting and evaluating NFL players who were not under contract with any team, including free agents and players on other teams' practice squads.
Ziegler's work as pro personnel coordinator helped the Broncos build a strong roster that was able to compete at the highest level. He played a key role in identifying talent, including players like defensive end Elvis Dumervil, who led the NFL in sacks in 2009, and wide receiver Brandon Lloyd (1448 yards), who led the NFL in receiving yards in 2010. Ziegler's contributions to the team did not go unnoticed, and in 2012, he was promoted to assistant director of pro personnel.
As assistant director of pro personnel, Ziegler continued to help the Broncos build a strong roster, with a focus on finding undervalued players who could contribute to the team. He played a key role in identifying players like cornerback Chris Harris Jr., who was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2011 and went on to become one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL. Ziegler also played a role in the team's acquisition of quarterback Peyton Manning in 2012, which helped to establish the Broncos as one of the top teams in the league.
Dave Ziegler's Relentless Pursuit of Talent and Winning Culture: His Impact on the Denver Broncos
Ziegler's work with the Broncos did not go unnoticed, and he was soon being courted by other NFL teams. In 2013, he was offered a job as director of pro personnel with the San Francisco 49ers, but he ultimately decided to stay with the Broncos, where he continued to have a major impact on the team's success.
Overall, Ziegler's time with the Denver Broncos was marked by a relentless focus on finding talent and building a winning culture. His contributions to the team helped to establish the Broncos as one of the top teams in the NFL, and his success with the team helped to set him on a path to becoming a general manager in the league. Today, he continues to use the lessons he learned with the Broncos in order to guide the Las Vegas Raiders back to a "Commitment to Excellence"
Ziegler's journey to the NFL was anything but straightforward, but his hard work and dedication paid off. He worked his way up the ladder, starting as a scout for the Denver Broncos, and later, he moved to the New England Patriots, where he held several roles, including assistant director of pro scouting and director of pro personnel. Ziegler was hired as the general manager of the Las Vegas Raiders in January 2022, marking the pinnacle of his career.
Ziegler's story is a testament to the power of perseverance and hard work. His journey to the NFL was marked by many ups and downs, but he remained focused on his goal and never gave up. His story is an inspiration to anyone who has dreams of working in the NFL or achieving any other seemingly impossible goal. Ziegler's appearance on "Bussin' With The Boys" gave fans of the Las Vegas Raiders and football enthusiasts a rare glimpse into the life of an NFL general manager. It shows that behind every successful person, there is a unique story of struggle and triumph. Ziegler's journey is a reminder that success is not always a straight line, but with hard work and determination, anything is possible.