Devaney's career in football began in the scouting department of the Washington Redskins in 1979. He spent 10 years with the Redskins, during which time the team won two Super Bowl championships. He then moved to the San Diego Chargers, where he served as the Director of Player Personnel from 1990 to 2000. During his time with the Chargers, the team made its first and only Super Bowl appearance in 1994.
In 2001, Devaney joined the San Francisco 49ers as the Director of Player Personnel. He spent two years with the 49ers before moving to the Atlanta Falcons in 2006, where he served as the Assistant General Manager.
Devaney's most notable role came in 2008 when he was appointed as the General Manager of the St. Louis Rams. During his tenure, he was responsible for drafting key players such as Sam Bradford, who won the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award in 2010. Despite this, the Rams struggled during Devaney's time as GM, with the team achieving a record of 12-52 over his four seasons in charge.
Devaney's tenure with the Rams ended in 2011, and he subsequently moved into broadcasting. He worked as an analyst for ESPN and the NFL Network, providing insight based on his extensive experience in the league.
Throughout his career, Devaney has been recognized for his ability to identify and develop talent. Despite the challenges he faced as the GM of the Rams, his contributions to the teams he worked with, particularly in the areas of scouting and player personnel, have left a lasting impact on the NFL.
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