Former Virginia Tech Standout Promoted to Bears Assistant GM

Jeff King, a star tight end for the Hokies, has worked his way up the ranks in the NFL front office.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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Jeff King, a former standout tight end at Virginia Tech, has been promoted to assistant general manager of the Chicago Bears. King, who played in the NFL for eight seasons, has steadily climbed the ranks in the Bears' front office since joining the team as a scouting intern in 2014.

Why it matters

King's promotion is a testament to his hard work and talent in the NFL scouting and personnel world. As an assistant GM, he will play a key role in the Bears' roster decisions and player personnel moves as they look to build a contender in the NFC.

The details

After his playing career, King joined the Bears as a scouting intern in 2014. He was quickly promoted to pro scout in 2016, then assistant director of pro scouting in 2019, and director of pro scouting in 2021. From 2022-2023, he served as the co-director of player personnel before earning his latest promotion to assistant GM under Ryan Poles.

  • King was promoted to assistant GM on his 43rd birthday (February 20, 2026).
  • King's previous role was co-director of player personnel from 2022-2023.

The players

Jeff King

A former standout tight end at Virginia Tech who played 8 seasons in the NFL with the Panthers and Cardinals. He has steadily climbed the ranks in the Chicago Bears' front office since joining as a scouting intern in 2014.

Ryan Poles

The current general manager of the Chicago Bears, who promoted King to assistant GM.

Ian Cunningham

The Bears' former assistant GM, who left the team to become the general manager of the Atlanta Falcons.

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What they’re saying

“King's promotion means he's now only one step away from being an NFL GM. He's interviewed for one job already, the Los Angeles Chargers in 2024.”

— Bryan Manning, Author (yahoo.com)

What’s next

King will now work closely with GM Ryan Poles to help shape the Bears' roster and player personnel decisions as they look to build a contender in the NFC.

The takeaway

Jeff King's rise from Virginia Tech standout to NFL assistant GM is an inspiring story of hard work, dedication, and talent being rewarded. His promotion puts him in position to potentially become an NFL general manager in the near future.