EDMONTON — After a weekend of speculation, the Edmonton Eskimos officially announced Brock Sunderland as the club’s new General Manager & Vice President of Football Operations on Monday.

“The Edmonton Eskimos are one of the most storied franchises in all of professional sports and I couldn’t be more excited and honoured to be the new general manager of this great organization,” Sunderland said in a statement.

The Esks’ hire comes just two weeks after the club’s dismissal of Ed Hervey following a tenure that included a Grey Cup win in 2015.

For the past four seasons, Sunderland has served as assistant general manager for the Ottawa REDBLACKS. His term includes two division final victories and back-to-back Grey Cup appearances, winning the championship in 2016 – after just three seasons as an expansion team. Sunderland’s role included contract negotiations, assisting with salary cap management and overseeing the scouting department.

The native of Great Falls, Montana entered the CFL in 2004 as a scout with the Montreal Alouettes where he quickly advanced to Director of Scouting.

Now entering his 14th season in pro football, Sunderland spent six seasons (2007-12) with NFL’s New York Jets in various scouting capacities. The team made back-to-back appearances in the AFC championship during his time with the team (2009, 2010).

Sunderland is a former wide receiver and punt returner for the University of Montana (1998-2000). After appearing in three conference championships, he entered the coaching ranks a student assistant coach at his alma mater.