Bears hire former Seahawks GM Ruskell as director of player personnel

Bears hire Ruskell as player director

LAKE FOREST, Ill. — The Chicago Bears have hired former Seattle Seahawks president and general manager Tim Ruskell as their director of player personnel.

Ruskell presided over Seattle’s only Super Bowl appearance. He also let Pro Bowl blocker Steve Hutchinson leave in free agency after he gave him a transition tag instead of the more restrictive franchise label for 2006.

That move accelerated the Seahawks’ decline and ultimately cost Ruskell his job in December, with the team at 4-7.

In Chicago, Ruskell will be reunited with general manager Jerry Angelo while overseeing college and pro personnel matters. The two previously worked together in Tampa Bay’s front office.