Vinny Cerrato
Encyclopedia
Vinny Cerrato is the former Executive Vice President for Football Operations (General Manager) for the Washington Redskins
of the National Football League
and actor in the feature film Kindergarten Ninja.
at Iowa State University
, where he played quarterback
and wide receiver
.
Golden Gophers
from 1983 to 1984, and he was promoted to recruiting coordinator in 1985, before leaving for Notre Dame.
at the University of Notre Dame
. During that time, the Irish played in four Bowl games and won the 1988 NCAA National Championship.
for nine seasons. He joined San Francisco in 1991 as the Director of College Scouting, helping to draft players including Ted Washington
, Ricky Watters
, Dana Stubblefield
and Bryant Young
. In 1994
, the 49ers were the Super Bowl XXIX
Championship team. In 1995, Cerrato was promoted to Director of Player Personnel, overseeing all college scouting and draft activities as well as pro scouting of NFL players and opponents.
. During this time, he acquired older big name stars like Bruce Smith, Deion Sanders
, Irving Fryar
, Jeff George
, and Mark Carrier. He was then fired by Marty Schottenheimer
in 2001
. During his brief hiatus from the Redskins, Cerrato worked for ESPN
as a college analyst.
in 2002
as Vice President for Football Operations. The Redskins posted a cumulative 52-65 regular season won–lost record during this second stint.
On Thursday, December 17, 2009, the Redskins announced that Cerrato had resigned as Executive Vice-President of Football Operations. When asked whether Cerrato was offered another position in the Redskins front office, owner Daniel Snyder stated simply that it was "time to move on."
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
and actor in the feature film Kindergarten Ninja.
Playing career
Cerrato played college footballCollege football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Iowa State University
Iowa State University
Iowa State University of Science and Technology, more commonly known as Iowa State University , is a public land-grant and space-grant research university located in Ames, Iowa, United States. Iowa State has produced astronauts, scientists, and Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winners, along with a host of...
, where he played quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
and wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
.
University of Minnesota
Cerrato started his career as a graduate assistant for the MinnesotaUniversity of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
Golden Gophers
Minnesota Golden Gophers
The Minnesota Golden Gophers are the college sports team for the University of Minnesota. The university fields both men's and women's teams in basketball, cross country, gymnastics, golf, ice hockey, swimming, tennis, and track and field. Men's-specific sports include baseball, football, and...
from 1983 to 1984, and he was promoted to recruiting coordinator in 1985, before leaving for Notre Dame.
Notre Dame
Before the NFL, Cerrato served as the football recruiting coordinator under Lou HoltzLou Holtz
Louis Leo "Lou" Holtz is a retired American football coach, and active sportscaster, author, and motivational speaker in the United States...
at the University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
. During that time, the Irish played in four Bowl games and won the 1988 NCAA National Championship.
San Francisco 49ers
Cerrato was with the San Francisco 49ersSan Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
for nine seasons. He joined San Francisco in 1991 as the Director of College Scouting, helping to draft players including Ted Washington
Ted Washington
Theodore Washington, Jr. is a former American football nose tackle. He was originally drafted out of Louisville by the San Francisco 49ers, 25th overall in the 1991 NFL Draft, but also played for the Denver Broncos, Buffalo Bills, Chicago Bears, New England Patriots, Oakland Raiders and Cleveland...
, Ricky Watters
Ricky Watters
Richard "Ricky" James Watters is a former American football running back who played for the San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles, and the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League. Watters played college football at the University of Notre Dame where he played wide receiver on the...
, Dana Stubblefield
Dana Stubblefield
Dana William Stubblefield is a former American football defensive tackle in the National Football League. After graduating from Taylor High School in North Bend, Ohio, Stubblefield attended the University of Kansas....
and Bryant Young
Bryant Young
Bryant Colby Young is an American football coach serving as defensive line coach for the University of Florida and former NFL player for the San Francisco 49ers...
. In 1994
1994 NFL season
The 1994 NFL season was the 75th regular season of the National Football League. To honor the NFL's 75th season, a special anniversary logo was designed and each player wore a patch on their jerseys with this logo throughout the season...
, the 49ers were the Super Bowl XXIX
Super Bowl XXIX
Super Bowl XXIX was an American football game played on January 29, 1995 at Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami, Florida to decide the National Football League champion following the 1994 regular season...
Championship team. In 1995, Cerrato was promoted to Director of Player Personnel, overseeing all college scouting and draft activities as well as pro scouting of NFL players and opponents.
First stint with Redskins
Cerrato was hired by the Redskins in 19991999 NFL season
The 1999 NFL season was the 80th regular season of the National Football League. The Cleveland Browns returned to the field for the first time since the 1995 season...
. During this time, he acquired older big name stars like Bruce Smith, Deion Sanders
Deion Sanders
Deion Luwynn Sanders , nicknamed "Prime Time" and "Neon Deion", is a former National Football League cornerback and Major League Baseball outfielder who currently works as an NFL Network analyst...
, Irving Fryar
Irving Fryar
Irving Dale Fryar is a former American football wide receiver of the National Football League.Fryar grew up in Mount Holly Township, New Jersey and played high school football at Rancocas Valley Regional High School...
, Jeff George
Jeff George
Jeffrey Scott "Jeff" George is a former American football quarterback. He was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts with the first overall pick of the 1990 NFL Draft...
, and Mark Carrier. He was then fired by Marty Schottenheimer
Marty Schottenheimer
Martin Edward "Marty" Schottenheimer is the current head coach of the Virginia Destroyers of the United Football League. Over his career, he has served as head coach of the Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs, Washington Redskins, and San Diego Chargers. He has the most wins of any NFL coach...
in 2001
2001 Washington Redskins season
The 2001 Washington Redskins season began with the team trying to improve on their 8–8 record from 2000.-NFL Draft:-Free agents:-Staff:-Schedule:-Standings:-References:...
. During his brief hiatus from the Redskins, Cerrato worked for ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
as a college analyst.
Second stint with Redskins
Cerrato was subsequently rehired by Daniel SnyderDaniel Snyder
Daniel M. Snyder is the current owner of the Washington Redskins American football team, owner of the Dick Clark Productions television production company, and primary investor in Red Zebra Broadcasting, which is home to the Redskins Radio Network. Snyder has a net worth of $1.05 billion...
in 2002
2002 Washington Redskins season
The 2002 Washington Redskins began with the team trying to improve on their 8–8 record from 2001.-Staff:-Schedule:-References:...
as Vice President for Football Operations. The Redskins posted a cumulative 52-65 regular season won–lost record during this second stint.
On Thursday, December 17, 2009, the Redskins announced that Cerrato had resigned as Executive Vice-President of Football Operations. When asked whether Cerrato was offered another position in the Redskins front office, owner Daniel Snyder stated simply that it was "time to move on."