Mike Lombardi is returning to the NFL as vice president of player personnel for the Cleveland Browns, the team announced Friday.
Lombardi, who has worked as an NFL Network and NFL.com analyst since 2008, is a former longtime personnel executive with the San Francisco 49ers, Browns, Philadelphia Eagles and Oakland Raiders.
Lombardi first joined the Browns’ scouting staff in 1987 and was named pro personnel director in 1989 and director of player personnel in 1993. During his first stint with Cleveland, the Browns won two AFC Central titles and advanced to the playoffs in 1994 under then-coach Bill Belicheck.
Lombardi worked in the front office with the Raiders from 1999 to 2007 before joining the NFL Network. During his stay in Oakland, the Raiders reached the Super Bowl.
The Browns’ interest in Lombardi had been rumored since new owner Jimmy Haslam fired general manager Tom Heckert and head coach Pat Shurmur on Dec. 31. Browns CEO Joe Banner worked with Lombardi with both were executives with the Eagles.
Lombardi’s hiring comes one day after the Browns named Norv Turner as offensive coordinator and about a week after Rob Chudzinski was chosen as the new head coach.