Patriots GM search: Tracking news, rumors about open position originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
The New England Patriots have begun their search for the next leader of their football operations department.
Director of scouting Eliot Wolf has operated as New England’s de facto general manager since Bill Belichick’s departure in January. Wolf was the primary decision-maker during NFL free agency as well as the draft, which saw the Patriots select the potential next face of the franchise in quarterback Drake Maye third overall.
Unsurprisingly, our Phil Perry reports that Wolf is the “overwhelming favorite” to be officially named the Patriots’ next primary football executive. However, the Patriots must abide by the Rooney Rule, which states that all NFL teams must interview at least two minority candidates for head coach, general manager, and executive positions.
Until the Patriots announce their next front-office leader, you can stay up to date on all of the rumored candidates with our tracker below:
🔊 Patriots Talk: Patriots have opened their head-scratching GM search | Listen & Subscribe | Watch on YouTube
May 8: The Patriots are interviewing former Carolina Panthers director of player negotiations and salary cap manager Samir Suleiman for “a football executive job,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.
Suleiman, who was with the Panthers for four years from January 2020 to January 2024, will meet with New England in Boston along with Brandon Hunt, according to The MMQB’s Albert Breer.
The Patriots are holding interviews with Eagles exec Brandon Hunt and ex-Panthers exec Samir Suleiman off-site in Boston, rather than at Gillette Stadium. One twist to all this: Hunt and Suleiman worked together in the Steelers personnel department from 2013-19. https://t.co/1CunrXhENW
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) May 8, 2024
May 7: The MMQB’s Albert Breer reports the Patriots are interviewing Philadelphia Eagles director of scouting Brandon Hunt for the position.
The Patriots are interviewing Eagles director of scouting Brandon Hunt for their primary football executive position tomorrow in Foxboro, per sources. It’s the first known external interview New England has conducted for the job.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) May 7, 2024
May 7: Buffalo Bills director of player personnel Terrance Gray turned down the Patriots’ offer to interview for the primary football executive position, per The MMQB’s Albert Breer.
The Patriots reached out to interview Bills director of player personnel Terrance Gray for their primary football executive position, per sources, and Gray politely turned them down.
Eliot Wolf’s the expected hire, but New England still has to satisfy NFL rules on interviews.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) May 7, 2024
May 6: Cincinnati Bengals senior personnel executive Trey Brown declined the Patriots’ request for him to interview for the position, per NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero.
#Bengals senior personnel executive Trey Brown has declined a request to interview for the #Patriots de facto GM position, per source. Brown will remain a top GM candidate in next year’s cycle.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) May 6, 2024
