Michigan Lands a Super Bowl Winning Evaluator for the Front Office
Michigan bolsters its front office with an NFL Draft architect, bringing Super Bowl pedigree and data-driven evaluation to Ann Arbor's recruiting battlefield.
The Michigan football program is continuing its transformation under head coach Kyle Whittingham, and the latest move signals a major shift in how the Wolverines plan to evaluate and acquire talent. According to recent reports, Michigan is finalizing a deal to hire former New York Giants Director of College Scouting Chris Pettit as the program's new Assistant General Manager. Pettit will work directly under General Manager Dave Peloquin, forming a front-office structure that looks more like an NFL franchise than a traditional college staff.
For Michigan fans, this isn't just another name on the directory—it’s a clear statement about the "NFL-style" philosophy Whittingham is bringing to Ann Arbor. The Pedigree: Two Decades in the NFL To understand why this hire matters, you have to look at Pettit’s longevity. He spent 18 years with the New York Giants, surviving multiple coaching regimes and front-office turnovers.
During that tenure, he played a role in two Super Bowl-winning teams, eventually rising to become the Director of College Scouting from 2018 to 2022. Pettit is known in the industry for his "scouting excellence"—a technical, data-driven approach to player evaluation. In recent years, he even co-founded an AI scouting company, suggesting that he brings a modern, tech-forward edge to the talent identification process.
At Michigan, his primary focus will be supporting Peloquin in managing the roster, the transfer portal, and long-term recruiting evaluations. What This Means for Michigan Fans The hiring of Pettit is the latest piece in a larger puzzle. Since taking over, Kyle Whittingham has prioritized building a "professional" infrastructure.