Rumors that Washington Redskins general counsel and senior vice president Eric Schaffer would be tapped as the team's next president began swirling in the wake of president Bruce Allen's firing Monday, after the Redskins capped a 3-13 season Sunday with a blowout loss to the Dallas Cowboys. 

"As this season concludes, Bruce Allen has been relieved of his duties as President of the Washington Redskins and is no longer with the organization," Redskins owner Dan Snyder said in a statement. 

"Like our passionate fan base, I recognize we have not lived up to the high standards set by great Redskins teams, coaches and players who have come before us," Snyder added. "As we reevaluate our team leadership, culture and process for winning football games, I am excited for the opportunities that lie ahead to renew our singular focus and purpose of bringing championship football back to Washington D.C."

Asked whether Schaffer would be tapped to serve as Allen's successor, a spokesman for the Redskins replied, "We have no announcement about that right now."

Former Redskins linebacker Robert Henson tweeted Sunday evening that "Schafer [sic] will move into Bruce's roll," and also predicted that Kyle Smith, the team's director of college scouting, would be "moved into more of a traditional gm role."

Meanwhile, NBC Sports Washington cited an unnamed source who said it was "unlikely" that Schaffer would get the promotion. Julie Donaldson, an anchor for the network, noted, "This does not mean Eric Schaffer is out, but perhaps a title or role less than he was wanting of GM."

Donaldson added that former Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera, who is expected to be hired as the Redskins' next head coach, "is aware of the good work Shaffer has done. Much depends how Schaffer accepts/deals with the news." 

Schaffer joined the Redskins in 2003 as the firm's salary cap manager and was later promoted to vice president of football administration. He was named general counsel in 2012 and senior VP of football operations in 2017. 

Schaffer serves as the team's chief contract negotiator and advises the organization on all legal matters, including sponsorships, licensing, vendor and employment agreements, team litigation and workers' compensation, according to the organization's website. He has worked closely with Allen and Redskins interim head coach Bill Callahan.  

Earlier in his career, Schaffer served as staff counsel for International Management Group's football division, where he oversaw legal issues for IMG's 90 National Football League clients and negotiated player contracts. 

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