FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Ahead of the second half of the 2026 season, the New England Revolution announced two significant changes to the front office, extending the contracts of both Chris Tierney and Curt Onalfo, promoting them each to new leadership roles within the organization.
Tierney spent 11 years as a Revolution player before retiring in 2018, then joined the club’s front office as Player Recruitment Manager in 2019. He has steadily risen through the organization since then, serving as Director of Soccer Operations and Assistant Sporting Director before being named the Revolution’s new General Manager and Chief Soccer Officer on Monday afternoon. Since becoming Assistant Sporting Director under Onalfo in 2024, Tierney has emerged as one of MLS’s most sought-after young executives, making his retention a top priority for Revolution President Brian Bilello, the Kraft Family, Onalfo, and other club leaders.
“I’ve known Chris for a very long time, as a player here for the Revolution for many years and then we were fortunate enough to be able to bring him on board in our front office. Over the last few years, Chris has really flourished,” explained Bilello. “Chris’ stock has risen pretty dramatically over the last few years and it was something that, both myself and Curt, had us thinking about how we could figure out a way to retain Chris knowing his capabilities and ability to lead an organization.
“I want to thank Curt for coming to me with an idea of how we could find a way to grow our organization, continue to be not only competitive, but really strong across all aspects of it. Curt came up with this idea of promoting Chris into a Chief Soccer Officer role and giving him control of our first team. So, I want to thank Curt for, in a very selfless way, thinking about ways that we can continue to improve.”
Onalfo, who previously held the Sporting Director role, had watched Tierney develop under his guidance and knew it was the right time for a change. After serving as the Sporting Director since 2023, Onalfo’s new title of Senior Vice President of Soccer Operations will see him focus much more of his efforts to the club’s Pro Pathway – something he has expressed great passion for as he’s helped develop the club’s vertical integration since joining the Revolution in 2019 as Technical Director.
“For me, the best organizations have a pathway, and they’re not stagnant. I believe in people. That’s how I manage. We have a building full of great people that all have potential. I looked into the future and thought there would be a good chance that Chris wouldn’t be with us come January. For me, I’ve been working on this for a while. I just felt like it’s the right thing for our organization,” said Onalfo. “My job now is to make sure throughout the organization that the way in which we’re going to play, that we match it from top to bottom. That takes a lot of work. We could be at the office every single night until 10 p.m. It just never ends. So, we’re dividing and conquering.”
For Tierney, preparation for this role began well before his time working in the Revolution front office and even before he became a player. In fact, he has been gaining experience for this position since he was a kid, cheering on his hometown team from the stands of Foxboro Stadium, before the Revs ever even stepped foot in Gillette.
For the Wellesley native, his professional experience with the club spans nearly two decades, but his connection to the organization runs so much deeper. Having his career continue to grow in New England feels like a natural fit – both for Tierney and for the club that has long prided itself on building a strong culture.
“It means a lot. It probably got a little tiresome for the media speaking to me as a player, talking about what this club means to me, but it’s hard to get away from. I’ve been a Revolution fan as long as I can remember. I remember coming to the old Foxboro Stadium, sitting on the aluminum benches, and idolizing all the guys on the team. To be able to continue and have the run that I’ve had at this club as a player, now the opportunity to work here as an executive – the responsibility of this role is not lost on me,” he said. “I don’t expect any extra leeway being a former player here. We have to deliver on our goals. I’m willing to accept the pressure and consequences that come with that. I’m really excited for the opportunity.”
As the team looks toward continuing the 2026 season strong with the return to MLS action soon approaching following the conclusion of the FIFA World Cup later in July, Tierney says the club is working on ways to strengthen the roster through the summer transfer window. While the front office settles into the changes and continues to grow stronger, the players are back on the pitch in Foxborough, working to make the second half of the season even more exciting than the first.
Currently sitting fourth in the Eastern Conference table, New England will resume play on July 22 at Gillette Stadium, hosting Toronto FC at 7:30 p.m. ET.
