BRIAN SHIELDS is now in his 10th year with the New York Jets and seventh heading the team's analytics department, having been promoted to director in 2020. In his role, Shields oversees football research and data analysis for the club's player evaluation, roster management, in-game decision-making, and resource allocation strategies. He also has traditional pro and college scouting responsibilities. Prior to transitioning into analytics after the 2018 draft, he worked as a college Area Scout for three seasons, covering the West region.

Before joining the Jets, Shields spent a total of six seasons working in several roles for the St. Louis Rams, most recently as an Area Scout (2013-15), covering the West. He also cross-checked safeties as part of the team's yearly draft preparations.

As a Player Personnel Analyst for the Rams in 2012, he had both pro and college scouting duties that included covering schools in the Northeast region, cross-checking draftable safeties, evaluating nine NFL rosters, giving advance scouting reports on select opponents, and cross-checking all guards, safeties, and linebackers for free agency.

Shields graduated from Princeton University in 2007, where he played wide receiver on the football team and competed as a sprinter for the track team. He received his MBA from the Paul Merage School of Business at the University of California, Irvine in 2011. He and his wife, Christine, reside in Whippany, NJ.