Garrett Mills

Garrett Mills is president and CEO at Chandler Hospitality Group, a multi-concept restaurant group in the Southwest United States. He joined the company in 2017 and served as vice president of strategy before being promoted to CEO and president in May 2019.

Mills had a seven-year career in the NFL. He was drafted by the New England Patriots in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He didn’t see any playing time during the regular season and was placed on injured reserve in the middle of the season. On September 1, 2007, he was released. He was claimed off waivers the next day by the Minnesota Vikings. He played in the season finale against the Denver Broncos and had his first career reception. The Vikings released him on September 4, 2010. On September 6, he signed with the Philadelphia Eagles’ practice squad and was moved to active roster on September 13. He was waived on December 21. The Cincinnati Bengals claimed him off waivers the next day. He was waived on August 16, 2011. The Patriots claimed him off waivers on August 21, but waived him again on August 29. He was re-signed to the Patriots practice squad on September 14, 2011.

Mills left the league in 2012 and earned his MBA degree from Northwestern University. He spent a few years working in investment management at Goldman Sachs’ Dallas office before connecting with RibCrib founder Bret Chandler.

Mills was born on October 12, 1983, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In football at Jenks High School, he led his teams to three Class 6A State Titles, was a three-year starter as a tight end, and as a senior he was named the District Player of the Year and he was named the Tulsa World News Player of the Year. In basketball, Mills was a three-year letterman. After his graduation in 2003, he played for the University of Tulsa. where he set an NCAA record in the 2005 season with 1,235 yards receiving (on 87 receptions), the most yards earned receiving by a tight end in a single season. He won the MVP for the 2005 C-USA Championship game and was an All-America selection.