Browns promote Lombardi to general manager

clev-browns-200The Cleveland Browns have changed Mike Lombardi’s title to general manager.

Lombardi was named the club’s vice president of player personnel on Jan. 18 after he spent the past five years working for as a TV commentator. On Tuesday, the Browns elevated him to GM and hired Ray Farmer as the team’s assistant GM. Farmer had been Kansas City’s director of pro personnel the past seven years

Farmer interviewed with the Browns during their GM search this offseason and CEO Joe Banner said the team “came away extremely impressed.” Banner previously worked with Farmer in Philadelphia, where he played linebacker for three seasons. With the Chiefs, Farmer was responsible for scouting players with professional experience and evaluating current NFL players.

Lombardi’s promotion comes a week before the Browns open free agency more than $46 million under the salary cap.