Tom Modrak, former Eagles general manager and a longtime NFL personnel man, died Tuesday at his home near St. Augustine, Fla.
Modrak, 74, was executive director of the BLESTO scouting combine at the time of his death from a neurological disease that was discovered in December.
The Steelers hired him as a full-time scout in 1978 after he scouted for BLESTO.
He became general manager of the Eagles in 1998, serving in that role until he was fired in 2001 amid fraying ties with then-head coach Andy Reid and owner Jeffrey Lurie.
Modrak approached the Eagles last May and "demanded," in Lurie's words, a new clause.