The Tennessee Titans have received authorization from the Cleveland Browns to interview Catherine Hickman as they search for a new general manager, as disclosed by a knowledgeable source. Hickman has been serving as the assistant general manager and vice president of football operations with the Browns since 2022, after initially being brought on board in 2019 as the football operations coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles.

Presently, Hickman holds the distinction of being the highest-ranking female executive in the NFL. Her interview will assist Tennessee in adhering to the Rooney Rule, which mandates that franchises interview at least two candidates from outside the organization who are either women or people of color for their general manager vacancy. It is noteworthy that the Titans are controlled by Amy Adams Strunk.

Before her time with the Browns, Hickman gained valuable experience working with the Montreal Alouettes in the Canadian Football League, starting as an intern and advancing to the position of assistant general manager before she moved on to the Toronto Argonauts.

The Titans began their search for a new general manager following the termination of Ran Carthon, who spent two seasons in the role. Carthon was the first Black general manager in the team’s history, but his departure followed a challenging period marked by a 9-25 record under his leadership. Chad Brinker, the Titans’ president of football operations, is overseeing the search process and mentioned that there has been considerable interest in the position.