The San Francisco 49ers today announced that Tom Gamble has been named assistant general manager.
“Tom is an accomplished talent evaluator who grew up around the game of football,” said 49ers general manager Trent Baalke. “Having spent the last 28 years of his life in the NFL, his wealth of experience has been invaluable to our organization for almost a decade. Tom is a hard-working professional and more importantly a good man. We are excited he will continue to play an integral role in the development of our team.”
Gamble returned to the 49ers in January of 2015 after spending the previous two seasons (2013-14) as the Philadelphia Eagles vice president of player personnel. He originally joined the 49ers in 2005 and spanned eight seasons with San Francisco including his last two as the director of player personnel (2011-12). While working closely with Baalke, Gamble oversaw both the college and pro personnel efforts of the 49ers. As the 49ers director of pro personnel from 2005-10, he monitored every NFL roster with an emphasis on scouting talent of upcoming pro free agents, while also maintaining continuous depth of personnel on the team’s roster.
Gamble, who enters his 29th NFL season and 10th with the 49ers, has an extensive resume, which includes work in college and pro personnel, contract negotiations and a stint in the coaching ranks. He is the product of a football family, as his father, Harry, served as the General Manager and later the President of the Philadelphia Eagles. Harry also served as head coach of both the University of Pennsylvania and Lafayette College, before coaching on Dick Vermeil’s Eagles staff.
During his time in the NFL, Gamble has helped build 12 playoff teams – two with San Francisco, five with Indianapolis and five with Philadelphia. Prior to his arrival in San Francisco, Gamble served as a college scout for the Colts from 1998 through the 2005 draft, under veteran NFL executive Bill Polian.
Gamble originally entered the NFL as an assistant in the player personnel department of the Philadelphia Eagles, in 1988. He stayed with the Eagles through 1994, serving as a college scouting administrator, area scout, contract negotiator, and later served as the director of pro scouting.
From 1995 to 1996, Gamble served as a defensive assistant/quality control coach with the New York Jets. He later worked as a part-time college scout for the Carolina Panthers before serving as a pro scout for the Baltimore Ravens, in 1997.
Gamble earned his B.S. from High Point University in 1987 and an M.S. from Rowan University in 1988.
