Edmonton Elks name Ed Hervey as general manager and VP of football operations

EDMONTON — The Edmonton Elks are hoping a familiar face can help turn the franchise around.

Ed Hervey was named general manager and vice-president of the CFL club on Tuesday. He spent eight years with the franchise as a player before becoming a team scout and later the GM.

"I can’t ask for a better opportunity to come back to," Hervey said in a statement. "Above everything else, Edmonton is home. When home calls, you answer it."

Hervey rejoins the Elks after four seasons with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, including this past season as general manager. It was his third stint as a CFL GM, after four seasons in Edmonton (2013-16) and two years with the B.C. Lions (2018-19).

The Elks missed the playoffs this past season with a 7-11 record. Edmonton's last post-season appearance came in 2019.

The team fired coach and GM Chris Jones last summer after an 0-5 start. He was replaced as GM on an interim basis by Geroy Simon.

Jarious Jackson served as interim head coach and guided the team to a 7-6 record the rest of the way.

Hervey and team president Chris Morris are expected to attend a news conference on Wednesday morning at Commonwealth Stadium.

"Ed embodies the core values that I'm looking for in Edmonton," Morris said. "He's a man with a tremendous amount of integrity, who believes in consistency and continuity.

"He brings a wealth of experience working as a general manager in this league, but also understands the importance of innovating as we strive to be Grey Cup champions."

Hervey, a 51-year-old Los Angeles native, built an Edmonton team that went 14-4 in 2015 and captured the Grey Cup with a 26-20 win over the Ottawa Redblacks.

He was a CFL all-star in 2001 and 2003 and finished his career with 6,715 yards receiving on 476 receptions. Hervey and Morris won the Grey Cup as teammates in 2003 and '05.

Hervey will now begin the process of hiring a head coach and assembling his football operations staff in preparation for the 2025 season, the team said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 19, 2024.

The Canadian Press