Catherine Raîche was tapped as assistant general manager and VP of football operations by the Cleveland Browns, given duties that include overseeing a roster that may (or may not) include quarterback Deshaun Watson.
The Browns announced the hire on Thursday as Raîche retains the title of being the highest-ranking woman executive in the NFL. Raîche spent three years with the Philadelphia Eagles, including more than a year as VP of football operations.
The Browns’ position that Raîche filled was held by Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, who became the Minnesota Vikings GM in January.
The Montreal native began her professional career as a lawyer before she was hired as an intern by the Montreal Alouettes. Within two years, Raîche was the team’s assistant GM, a title no other woman held in the history of the CFL.
Before the Eagles, she worked for the Toronto Argonauts and XFL.
Watson faces 24 lawsuits filed by women over alleged inappropriate sexual conduct during massage sessions. While two grand juries in Texas decided not to prosecute Watson criminally, he is expected to face punishment under the league’s personal conduct policy.
