Tom Heckert (September 18, 1938 â September 20, 2016) was an American football coach, scout, and executive. He served as the head football coach at Adrian College from 1973 to 1981, compiling a record of 43âÂÂ36âÂÂ2. Heckert was then a scout with the Cleveland Browns from 1982 to 1986 and a personnel executive with the Miami Dolphins from 1989 until his retirement in 2007. His son, Tom Heckert Jr., was the former general manager of the Browns.