Jay Zygmunt Explained

Jay Zygmunt
Birth Place:Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Pastexecutive:
  • Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams
    • General counsel
    • Vice president
    • Senior vice president
    • Executive vice president
    • President of Football Operations
    • General manager/President of Football Operations
Highlights:
Pfrexec:ZygmJa0

Jay A. Zygmunt (born July 1952) is a former American football executive. He served as the general manager of the St. Louis Rams from to, in addition to various other roles between and .

A native of Chicago, Illinois, Zygmunt was hired by the Los Angeles Rams in as a general counsel.[1] He was promoted to vice president in 1988, senior vice president in 1991, and executive vice president in 1996.[2] After the Rams moved to St. Louis in, his main role was negotiating contracts and managing salary cap.

In, Zygmunt was given a game ball by coach Dick Vermeil. Vermeil said in an interview, "You know who's got the lousiest job in this building? Jay Zygmunt. I could not do what Jay Zygmunt does, and deal with the agents, and all that kind of stuff. It is tough, much tougher today than it's ever been ... He's had some good opportunities to leave here. He's been here through all these bad years. But he's been here when the Rams were winning. And he wants to see it that way again. You've got to acknowledge and pay respect to people that have that deep commitment. And his commitment is every bit as deep as mine."[3]

After the Rams' Super Bowl XXXIV championship, Zygmunt was promoted to President of Football Operations.[4] In, he became their general manager, succeeding Charley Armey, while retaining his position of President of Football Operations.[5] Though the team compiled an 8–8 record that year, the Rams declined in the following seasons, winning just five of thirty-two games in the next two years.[6] He resigned following a 2–14 record in .[7] [8]

Notes and References

  1. News: Zygmunt leaves after 27 years with the Rams. St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Newspapers.com. December 23, 2008.
  2. Web site: Rams' president of football operations Zygmunt resigns. ESPN. December 22, 2008.
  3. News: Vermeil amires Zygmunt's dedication. St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Newspapers.com. Thomas, Jim. October 5, 1999.
  4. News: Slide began not long after Super Bowl XXIV title. St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Newspapers.com. November 4, 2007.
  5. News: New title, but same jobs for Zygmunt. St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Newspapers.com. July 26, 2007. Thomas, Jim.
  6. Web site: Jay Zygmunt Football Executive Record. Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  7. News: Zygmunt's resignation official. St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Newspapers.com. Bryan. Burwell. Jim. Thomas. December 23, 2008.
  8. News: Rams' president of football operations steps down. St. Joseph News-Press. Newspapers.com. December 23, 2008. Fallstrom, R. B..