CLEVELAND (92.3 The Fan) – The Browns continue to pick brains over brawn as they rebuild the front office of the woebegone franchise.
Colts pro scouting coordinator Andrew Berry was named the team’s new vice president of player personnel Wednesday night.
Berry comes aboard as the Browns kick into gear their efforts to prepare for the upcoming NFL Draft starting at the Senior Bowl this week in Mobile, Alabama. The Browns will pick second – their highest spot in 16 years – in April.
Like chief strategy officer Paul DePodesta and executive vice president of football operations Sashi Brown, Berry is a Harvard graduate. He has a bachelors degree in economics and a masters degree in computer science and will now be charged with helping both DePodesta and Brown identify and cultivate talent for the club.
“Andrew has been part of a strong foundation in Indianapolis and possesses a tremendous understanding of what is needed to lead a successful, high functioning and comprehensive personnel group,” Brown said. “He has been trained by some very experienced and highly successful personnel executives in the National Football League. Andrew understands what it takes to build a winning team and the individual traits that are essential in looking at each player that make up that team.
“Andrew’s strategic and relentless approach to improving his craft and this team will positively impact our short and long-term opportunities.”
Berry, 28, was a 4-year starter, three-time All-Ivy cornerback and a two-time All-America selection at Harvard where he graduated cum laude.
In a 2009 profile on Berry published by the school’s paper, The Crimson, head football coach Tim Murphy praised Berry and his football intelligence.
“Andrew’s really special,” Murphy told The Crimson. “For my two cents, he’ll be running an NFL team in 15 years. At 37 years old, he’ll be running an NFL franchise. I have no question.”
Based on Murphy’s timeline, Berry is nearly 9 years early and he rose the ranks in just 7 years.
“I look forward to collaborating with Hue, Sashi, Paul and the personnel staff to make the most informed decisions to benefit our organization,” Berry said. “Hue is an outstanding coach with a diversity of expertise and proven track record of success, while I think Sashi and Paul are two of the brightest minds in all of professional sports.”
File photo of Andrew Berry / (Courtesy of Colts.com)
Berry was originally hired by Hall of Fame executive Bill Polian and the Indianapolis Colts as a scouting assistant in 2009 after going undrafted and sustaining a herniated disc following a tryout with the Washington Redskins.
“Andrew Berry is one of the brightest young men we ever had the pleasure of working with,” Polian said. He came to us very early in his career and very soon we realized he was on a fast track. I am not surprised the Browns hired him for this very important position. I assure you he has both the capacity and the will to do an outstanding job. The Browns have made, in my humble opinion, a great hire.”
Berry took the job with the Colts after forgoing an opportunity with Goldman Sachs and 2 years later he was promoted to pro scouting coordinator in 2011 before landing in Cleveland.
