Alonzo Highsmith

On February 24, 2020 he accepted a position in the Seattle Seahawks personnel department.

On January 2, 2018, it was reported that he would be joining the Cleveland Browns as their vice president of football operations. On January 10, it was confirmed that Highsmith would join the Browns, just as the Vice President of Player Personnel.

Following his football career, Highsmith became a professional boxer. Over a four-year career, Highsmith amassed a 27–1–2 record in the heavyweight division. Twenty three of those victories came by way of knockout.

In 2012, he accepted a Senior Personnel Executive position in the front office of the Green Bay Packers.

In 1997, he was inducted into the University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame.

The next year, he had a contract holdout, that forced him to miss most of training camp. He returned as the third-string fullback and played in only 2 games, before being waived on October 1, 1991.

On October 3, 1991, Highsmith was claimed off waivers by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Due to his chronic knee condition, he was released on October 7, 1992.

During the 1990 season, Jack Pardee became the new Oilers head coach and implemented the run and shoot offense. The team decided that Highsmith wasn't a good fit for new system. On September 3, he was traded to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for a second round (#38-Darryll Lewis) and a fifth round (#136-Tim Roberts) draft choice.

Although he had started 40 straight games with the Houston Oilers, he had a series of offseason knee surgeries, that had doctors recommending against the Dallas Cowboys acquiring him in 1990, based on a knee condition that could potentially end his career. Head coach Jimmy Johnson, knowing Highsmith from his playing days at the University of Miami, ignored the medical advice and went ahead with the proposed trade on September 3.

In 1988, he started 16 games, rushing for 466 yards (third on the team) on 94 carries for a 5-yard average, while developing into one of the best blocking fullbacks in the NFL. In 1989, he started again 16 games, led the team in rushing with 531 yards and was second on the team with 6 total touchdowns.

Highsmith was selected by the Houston Oilers in the first round (third overall) of the 1987 NFL Draft. He reported to the team after a long contract holdout, that saw him miss 6 months and 6 games. As a rookie, he played in 8 games (3 starts) and registered 106 rushing yards.

In 1984, Jimmy Johnson arrived as the new head coach and named him a starter as a sophomore, rushing for a team leading 906 yards on 146 carries (6.2 average) and 11 touchdowns. One of the hardest working players on the team, he would develop into a complete fullback that could run, block and catch.

Highsmith accepted a scholarship from the University of Miami over offers from Notre Dame University and the University of Michigan. Although he was recruited by Howard Schnellenberger to play defense, he was converted to fullback before his freshman season started. He was a member of the 1983 Hurricanes squad that won the national championship, and led the team in rushing during the 31-30 victory over Nebraska in the Orange Bowl.

Highsmith attended Christopher Columbus High School, where he played defensive end and helped his team reach the state championship final in 1982, while receiving All-American, Florida high school Defensive Player of the Year and the Dade County Athlete of the Year honors. He also played basketball and ran track.

His father, Walter Highsmith, was a successful football player and coach. He, like Alonzo, played for the Oilers in 1972. He also played for the Montreal Alouettes, with and Alonzo playing football and basketball in Montreal as a teenager. Walter was a former head coach for Texas Southern University and enjoyed several coaching stints in college football and the CFL.

Alonzo Walter Highsmith, Sr. (born February 26, 1965) is an American football executive, former fullback and former boxer. He most recently served as the vice president of player personnel for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). Before that, Highsmith previously served as a senior personnel executive for the Green Bay Packers for 6 seasons. He is also a former American football fullback and professional boxer, who played in the NFL for the Houston Oilers, Dallas Cowboys, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He played college football at the University of Miami.