INDIANAPOLIS — Former Indianapolis Colts general manager Bill Tobin has died.
The Cincinnati Bengals announced the 83-year-old's death via their team website on Friday afternoon.
Tobin was the Colts' general manager from 1994-96. Indianapolis went 26-22 during Tobin's tenure in the Circle City.
As a Colts executive, Tobin helped Indianapolis draft two Pro Football Hall-of-Famers — wide receiver Marvin Harrison and running back Marshall Faulk.
In 13 season with the Colts, Harrison caught 1,102 passes for 14,580 yards and 128 touchdowns. Faulk played five seasons in Indianapolis, racking up 5,320 rushing yards and 42 touchdowns on 1,389 carries. Faulk finished his 12-year career with 12,279 yards and 100 TDs.
Tobin also drafted Nebraska linebacker Trev Alberts in the first round of the 1994 NFL Draft. ESPN analyst Mel Kiper's reaction to Tobin's pick led to a now-famous interview. Speaking with ESPN's Chris Mortensen, Tobin said, "Who in the hell is Mel Kiper anyway?"
After he left Indianapolis, Tobin became the Detroit Lions' director of player personnel. He was with Detroit from 2001-02.
Before he came to the Circle City, Tobin was the general manager of the Chicago Bears from 1987-92. Bengals.com reported that Tobin was also part of the Bears' front office crew that assembled the Super Bowl-winning 1985 Chicago Bears.
Tobin played football professionally during his life. He was a running back for the American Football League's Houston Oilers in the early 1960s — a pre-Super Bowl era that predates the NFL-AFL merger.
Tobin joined the Bengals' scouting department in 2003. Bengals.com reported that he served as consultant as recently as the Joe Burrow-Ja'Marr Chase era in Cincinnati.
Colts owner Jim Irsay took to X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, to express his condolences to Tobin's family.
"Rest in peace, Bill Tobin, our GM from '94-96," Irsay wrote. "Bill was a tough, old-time football man, starting as a player in the old AFL. He lived a magical life associated with the game he loved, and our league will miss him. My love and prayers for Bill's family."