Catherine Raîche balancing both worlds as Browns executive, mother
INDIANAPOLIS — It’s been a whirlwind 365 days for Catherine Raîche.
A year ago at this time, Raîche was still in her role as the Philadelphia Eagles’ Vice President of Football Operations. She was also pregnant with her first child.
A year later, Raîche stood in front of a group of reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine as the highest-ranked female team personnel executive in NFL history, as the Assistant General Manager and Vice President of Football Operations for the Browns. She also was the proud mom of a 6-month-old son, Zavier.
“I definitely do feel in a much better place and settled and having my routine and how I’m going to balance both worlds because I will say this, it is two very demanding jobs, two full-time jobs, I would say,” Raîche said Wednesday afternoon. “Definitely challenging early on just because, just by nature, I wanted to be involved, I wanted to stay connected and I had maybe a little bit of a hard time finding that sweet spot.
“But as the weeks and months went on and I just have to get credit, honestly, to our ownership group and to (Browns general manager) Andrew (Berry) for just being so flexible in just giving me the ability to adjust it and being able to find that spot where we both felt comfortable.”
For Raîche, who was officially announced in her current role last June 16, she’s found comfortability as one of the chief decision makers in the Browns’ football operations. She’s been front and center among the team’s group of representatives in Indianapolis this week for the Combine, involved in helping to locate the prospects needed to turn the franchise around after back-to-back losing seasons.
Where Raîche admits she’s still struggling to get comfortable involves her role away from football.
“It’s my first time leaving him for more than two days,” Raîche said. “So another big first here.”
Raîche has been setting “firsts” for a while, at least in the football world. Susan Tose Spencer is the only woman to have officially held the title of general manager in NFL history, doing so for the Eagles from 1982-85.
However, Raîche would be the first female general manager to actually control football operations. Eagles coach Marion Campbell controlled football operations during Spencer’s time running the team in the 1980s.
“Well, I’m excited in this role to be honest with you. I’m excited to be with the Browns,” Raîche said. “I learn daily, I’m eager to learn and I feel that you are never done with learning. That’s one of the things I think is very important. So I am really focused right now on helping the Browns, contributing to the success of this team and then what opportunity comes I’m excited for too.