Les Snead

Les Snead serves as the general manager of the Los Angeles Rams in the National Football League. A former collegiate athlete, Snead played tight end at Auburn University, where he was part of the Tigers' undefeated team and earned Southeast Region Academic All-American honors. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology and a Master of Education degree from Auburn, where he also served as a graduate assistant coach, marking the beginning of his career in football operations.

Snead developed his front-office expertise over nearly 15 years as a scout and personnel executive. He began his NFL career as a pro scout with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joining the franchise before its inaugural season and contributing to the assembly of a roster that reached the AFC Championship Game in its second year. Snead then spent 13 seasons with the Atlanta Falcons, advancing to the role of director of player personnel and helping build a roster that produced four consecutive winning seasons. These years of talent evaluation provided Snead with a comprehensive understanding of team building and player development in the NFL.

Appointed general manager of the then-St. Louis Rams, Snead inherited a franchise with the league's lowest five-year win total at the time. He implemented a strategy focused on trading draft capital for established veterans, a philosophy encapsulated in the phrase "F them picks." This approach brought the Rams players such as quarterback Matthew Stafford, cornerback Jalen Ramsey, pass rusher Von Miller, and wide receiver Brandin Cooks. The strategy culminated in a Super Bowl LVI championship, the franchise's first title since returning to Los Angeles.

Snead has become the winningest general manager in Rams franchise history, accumulating 119 combined regular season and playoff wins. Under his leadership, the Rams have recorded seven winning seasons, reached the playoffs six times in eight seasons, and made two Super Bowl appearances. His partnership with head coach Sean McVay is among the longest-tenured active coach-general manager collaborations in the NFL. Snead received the Professional Football Writers of America's Jack Horrigan Award for his accessibility and professionalism with the media. His career is often referenced in discussions of NFL leadership, risk management, and team-building strategies.