Buccaneers interested in Chiefs executive Chris Ballard for GM position

Tampa Bay is closing in on a new general manager.

By James Dator Jan 2, 2014, 8:13pm EST

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers hired a head coach and offensive coordinator with a wealth of experience, but appear to be going in a very different direction for their vacant general manager position.

Chris Ballard of the Kansas City Chiefs is the front-runner for the job, according to Chris Mortensen of ESPN. Ballard has a total of 13 years of NFL experience, but spent 11 of these years as an area scout for the Chicago Bears. He was named director of pro scouting by the organization in 2012 before making a move to Kansas City in 2013 as director of pro personnel.

It's a resume of sustained success, but a rapid shift in job titles should he be named general manager of the Buccaneers. It's a departure from the team's past, when it took eight years as director of pro personnel for former GM Mark Dominik before being named to the top job.

Tampa Bay is moving quickly after signing Lovie Smith as head coach on Wednesday, signing Jeff Tedford as offensive coordinator and now looking to fill its GM role.