View source for Vinny Cerrato

{{Short description|American football executive}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{More footnotes|date=February 2011}}'''Vinny Cerrato''' is a former executive for the [[San Francisco 49ers]] and [[Washington Redskins]] of the [[National Football League]] (NFL). He led the Redskins' personnel department throughout the 2000s as their ''de facto'' general manager. Cerrato has also been an analyst and film actor.

==Biography==

===Playing career===
Cerrato played [[college football]] at [[Iowa State University]], where he played [[quarterback]] and [[wide receiver]].

==Football career==
===Oakland Invaders===
Cerrato signed a contract with the [[USFL]] Oakland Invaders in January 1983, however, was cut in training camp a month later.

===University of Minnesota===
Cerrato started his career as a graduate assistant for the [[University of Minnesota|Minnesota]] [[Minnesota Golden Gophers|Golden Gophers]] from 1983 to 1984, and he was promoted to recruiting coordinator in 1985, before leaving for Notre Dame.

===Notre Dame===
Before the NFL, Cerrato served as the football recruiting coordinator under [[Lou Holtz]] at the [[University of Notre Dame]]. During that time, the Irish played in four Bowl games and won the 1988 NCAA National Championship.

===San Francisco 49ers===
Cerrato joined the [[San Francisco 49ers]] in 1991 as a scout, and later became the team's director of college scouting in June 1992, helping to draft players such as [[Ted Washington]], [[Ricky Watters]], [[Dana Stubblefield]] and [[Bryant Young]]. In [[1994 NFL season|1994]], the 49ers won [[Super Bowl XXIX]]. It was also this during time that Cerrato appeared as an actor in the 1994 film ''Kindergarten Ninja''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/dcsportsbog/2009/02/vinny_cerratos_first_ninja_sce.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121016031846/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/dcsportsbog/2009/02/vinny_cerratos_first_ninja_sce.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 16, 2012|title=Vinny Cerrato's First Ninja Scene|work=washingtonpost.com |access-date=September 22, 2011 |date= February 11, 2009}}</ref> In February 1995, Cerrato was promoted to director of player personnel, overseeing all college scouting and draft activities as well as pro scouting of NFL players and opponents.

===Washington Redskins===
In July 1999, Cerrato was hired as the director of player personnel for the [[Washington Redskins]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Maske |first1=Mark |title=Cerrato Arrives, Now Work Begins |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1999/07/26/cerrato-arrives-now-work-begins/944c753e-9dc4-446a-b60f-41f182690f73/ |website=The Washington Post |access-date=June 12, 2024 |date=July 25, 1999}}</ref> During this time, he acquired older big name stars like [[Bruce Smith (defensive end)|Bruce Smith]], [[Deion Sanders]], [[Irving Fryar]], [[Jeff George]], and [[Mark Carrier (safety)|Mark Carrier]]. He was then fired by [[Marty Schottenheimer]] in [[2001 Washington Redskins season|2001]], working as a college football analyst for [[ESPN]]. Cerrato was subsequently rehired in [[2002 Washington Redskins season|2002]] as their vice president of football operations following the firing of Schottenheimer. He resigned from the team on December 17, 2009.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=4750356 |title=Washington Redskins hire Bruce Allen after Vinny Cerrato, VP of football operations, resigns|work=ESPN.com |access-date=February 8, 2011 |date= December 17, 2009}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Refbegin}}
* {{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/10/AR2005081002181.html|title=Cerrato's Special Working Relationship|newspaper=Washington Post|access-date=April 2, 2008 | first=Mike | last=Wise | date=August 11, 2005}}
* {{cite web|url=http://www.redskins.com/news/mediaguide/MG04-Staff.pdf|title=Cerrato's Bio in Redskins Media Guide|work=Redskins Official website|access-date=April 2, 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080625080926/http://www.redskins.com/news/mediaguide/MG04-Staff.pdf <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = June 25, 2008}}
{{Refend}}

{{Washington Commanders general managers}}
{{1988 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football navbox}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cerrato, Vinny}}
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American football quarterbacks]]
[[Category:American football wide receivers]]
[[Category:American male film actors]]
[[Category:Iowa State Cyclones football players]]
[[Category:Minnesota Golden Gophers football coaches]]
[[Category:Notre Dame Fighting Irish football coaches]]
[[Category:San Francisco 49ers executives]]
[[Category:San Francisco 49ers scouts]]
[[Category:Washington Redskins executives]]
[[Category:People from Flushing, Queens]]