Ryan Grigson

Ryan Grigson (born February 23, 1972) is the general manager for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League. He played college football as a tight end and offensive tackle for the Purdue Boilermakers. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the sixth round of the 1995 NFL Draft. He was a member of the Detroit Lions from 1995–1996, and played for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League in 1997 before he retired due to a back injury. Grigson was a pro scout for the Saskatchewan Roughriders and an assistant coach for McPherson College in 1998. In 1999 he was a player personnel coordinator and assistant coach for the Buffalo Destroyers of the Arena Football League. From 1999 to 2003, Grigson was a national and regional scout for the St. Louis Rams. He was hired by the Eagles as a western regional scout in 2004, and was promoted to director of college scouting in 2006. He was promoted to director of player personnel in 2010 before being hired by the Colts in 2012.

College
Grigson played college football for the Purdue Boilermakers from 1991–1994. On October 10, 1992 in a game against Minnesota, Grigson was hit in the stomach by a defender and developed a kidney ailment. He was hospitalized immediately after and missed the entire season. Grigson returned for the 1993 season and was named one of three captains, along with Mike Alstott and Matt Kingsbury, for the 1994 season (Purdue's first winning season in a decade).

Professional
Grigson was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the sixth round (175th overall) of the 1995 NFL Draft. He was signed to a contract by the Bengals on June 10, 1995, but was waived during final cuts on August 28. He was signed by the Detroit Lions shortly thereafter and spent the 1995 season with the team. He was released by the Lions on August 14, 1996. He played for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League in 1997 before he suffered a career-ending back injury and was forced to retire.

Early career
Following his retirement from playing, Grigson became a pro scout for the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 1998. In the same year, he was an assistant coach for McPherson College's football team. In 1999, he was a player personnel coordinator and assistant coach for the Buffalo Destroyers of the Arena Football League.

National Football League
Grigson was hired by the St. Louis Rams as a national scout in 1999. He was part of the Rams' Super Bowl XXXIV championship team in 1999 and the Rams' NFC Championship/Super Bowl XXXVI team in 2001 as an area scout.

On May 15, 2004, Grigson was hired by the Philadelphia Eagles as a western regional scout. He was a part of the Eagles' NFC Championship/Super Bowl XXXIX team in 2004. On June 8, 2006, he was promoted to director of college scouting, and on February 3, 2010, he was promoted to director of player personnel.

Grigson was hired by the Indianapolis Colts as their general manager on January 11, 2012.

Personal
Ryan Jeffrey Grigson was born to Jeff and Juanita (Rokita) Grigson in 1972. Jeff Grigson (d.1980) had played college football at Northwest Missouri State University. Ryan's brother, Dru (currently a scout for the Arizona Cardinals), was born in 1978.

Grigson attended Our Lady of Grace Catholic School from 1978-86. He played high school football at Highland Senior High from 1986-90. As a sophomore, he was a member of the Trojan team that played in the 1987 5A State Championship game at the Colts' original stadium, the Hoosier Dome (RCA Dome).

Grigson met his wife, Cynthia, while the two were students at Purdue University. The couple married in 2001 and have five children.