NEW ORLEANS – Mike Borgonzi played football at Brown University, which was Andy Reid's first clue that the Chiefs had something special in him.
"You're talking about an Ivy League grad," a smiling Reid said of Borgonzi at Super Bowl LIX Opening Night on Monday. "So, he's a pretty sharp guy."
The Titans hired Borgonzi as their new general manager last month, and here last night, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, Chiefs owner Clark Hunt and Chiefs General Manager Brett Veach all gave glowing reviews to a guy they say played a big role in helping the Chiefs win three Super Bowls since the 2019 season.
"Mike is a great evaluator, and even more than that he has a feel for the whole thing – putting the team together, he has an idea for the cap," Reid said. "He was very close with Brett Veach, still is. I know Brett is going to miss him, having him there."
Borgonzi joined the Titans after spending the past 16 years with the Chiefs, including the last four seasons as Kansas City's Assistant General Manager.
During Borgonzi's time in Kansas City, he helped construct a roster over a five-season span that won the AFC four times (2019-20, 2022-23) and captured three Super Bowl championships (2019, 2022-23). The Chiefs are back in the game this year, looking for a three-peat.
"I can't say enough good things about Mike," Hunt said. "Mike did a tremendous job for us in several different roles as he came up through our football operations staff and he made it up to assistant general manager, and he played a key role in helping us put this team, and the teams the last couple of years, together. I was thrilled that he got the opportunity to be a general manager, something he has deserved for a number of years, and I think he'll do a tremendous job (in Tennessee).
"I really think he's a great talent evaluator, and that's the most important quality to have as a general manager, the ability to identify talent. I think that will be part of his makeup going forward as general manager."
Veach, in his eighth season as General Manager of the Chiefs, said he grew close to Borgonzi personally, and professionally.
From 2017-24, Borgonzi worked directly under Veach. As the Assistant General Manager from 2021 through 2024, Borgonzi supervised and directed the college and professional scouting operations while closely supporting and advising Veach with the club's roster management and player acquisition via the NFL Draft, free agency, waiver claims and trades.
"He just has a great feel for both sides, the college and pro side," Veach said of Borgonzi. "He knows how to identify college talent to be successful, but also all his years in the pro side, being able to identify the right traits that carry over to the next level and what to look for. I think he has a great eye, a great feel, and I think he's going to put together a tremendous staff in Tennessee. Him and (Titans President of Football Operations Chad) Brinker have a great relationship, they've known each other for a long time. That obviously too will help him get off and running there."
Veach admitted, though, he'll miss his friend, and front office partner.
But he said he expects they'll still talk on a weekly basis at least.
"Mike was one of the first guys that I met when I came to Kansas City, and we shared an office for years. He's almost like a brother to me, that's how close we (are)," Veach said of Borgonzi. "(The Titans) are getting a guy who is a blue collar, roll up your sleeves, go to work, do things the right way, treat people the right way, great communicator. He's a guy that I think should have been a GM for a few years now, and I was surprised he got passed over.
"We were fortunate because we got to keep him in our organization. But I think (the Titans) will be thrilled to death with the way he conducts himself and the way he puts that roster together."
