Quebecer Catherine Raîche continues to climb the ranks in the NFL and she has won praise from several members of the Cleveland Browns organization, in a portrait published on the web by the team.
For them, there is no doubt that the assistant general manager of the Browns will reach the highest level.
“She will be general manager in the NFL,” Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said. She can do it, it’s not even a question for me. The impact this will have on our sport cannot be measured. I want young women to be able to see ‘Cath’ in action to have a role model and know that they can achieve the same thing as her. »
Well aware of her role as a role model, Raîche does not hide her ambitions to become general manager. She was also considered by the Minnesota Vikings in their process of hiring a new GM in the winter of 2022.
“I would like to be general manager one day,” said Raîche. As I grow up, I hope my son will see me as a strong, hard-working mother. I hope people keep working to accomplish their goals and know that there is no limit. »
Raîche had to start at the bottom of the ladder, both with the Montreal Alouettes in 2015 and in the NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2019. Each time, she opened doors by attracting the attention of her bosses by his competences.
Her encounter with Marc Trestman while working for the Toronto Argonauts in 2018 led her to the United States when Trestman approached her to join the Tampa Bay Vipers, an XFL club, in 2019 .
After being hired by the Eagles the same year, she was promoted to VP of football operations for the team in 2021. Browns general manager Andrew Berry, who had the chance to work with Raîche in the Eagles organization in 2019 , recruited him as an assistant in 2022.
“Catherine is one of the most talented leaders I’ve worked with,” Berry said. There is nothing she cannot accomplish. She can evaluate players, do management, she knows about contract management, she is very intelligent and strategic. »
Eagles general manager Howie Roseman has no trouble understanding why his former colleague didn’t hesitate to sign Raîche when he moved to the Browns.
“You quickly realize how smart she is and how much she loves football,” Roseman said. She loved helping us develop a plan for the team.
“In all fields of business, you have to surround yourself with intelligent and hard-working people. There’s a reason why Andrew [Berry] took it from us,” Roseman added with a smile.
“She excels in all aspects of management,” Stefanski said. She brings a different point of view to our group and I think that’s very important. »
