Paul DePodesta was named the Browns' Chief Strategy Officer on January 5, 2016. DePodesta came to Cleveland after spending 20 seasons in Major League Baseball. During his time in MLB, DePodesta was the only executive in the league to win divisional titles with five different organizations.
Prior to the 2020 season, DePodesta led the processes for the Browns' search of head coach and general manager candidates. Through a thorough and strategic information gathering process that was inclusive of many members at various levels of the organization, DePodesta helped the Browns land Executive Vice President of Football Operations and General Manager Andrew Berry and Head Coach Kevin Stefanski. In their first season at the helm, the Browns earned their first playoff appearance since 2002 and first playoff victory in 26 years. Stefanski was named the NFL Coach of the Year.
DePodesta is tasked with implementing systems and processes to strengthen the Browns organization. In this role, he works closely with Berry, Stefanski and members of the player development and research departments to optimize all organizational decision-making efforts.
DePodesta joined the Browns from the New York Mets, where he served as the vice president of player development and amateur scouting for five seasons (2011-15). In his time in New York, DePodesta was part of a front office that took the Mets from a 79-83 record and fourth-place divisional finish in 2010 to a Divisional title, National League Championship and World Series appearance in 2015.
Prior to the Mets, DePodesta spent five seasons (2006-10) with the San Diego Padres, first as a special assistant for baseball operations and then executive vice president. Before San Diego, he served as the General Manager for the Los Angeles Dodgers from 2004-05. In his first season with the Dodgers, the team had its first playoff victory in 15 years.
Before his time as a general manager, DePodesta spent five years (1999-03) as the Assistant General Manager with the Oakland Athletics, where the A's won three Divisional titles and one wild card.
DePodesta began his MLB career as an intern in player development in 1996 for the Cleveland Indians before becoming the Major League advance scout for the 1997-98 seasons and later the special assistant to the GM.
He served as an intern for the Canadian Football League's Baltimore Stallions in 1995.
A native of Alexandria, Va., DePodesta graduated cum laude from Harvard in 1995. He played football and baseball for the Crimson.
