Patriots appear to be having 1 issue with search for top football executive
Jan 20, 2019; Kansas City, MO, USA; New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft watches from the sidelines before the AFC Championship game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
The New England Patriots are conducting a search for an executive to run their football operations department, but it does not sound like anyone is taking the process seriously.
Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports reported on Monday that the Patriots are looking to hire a front-office executive who would outrank all other football executives in the organization. In addition to serving as head coach, Bill Belichick was in charge of all football and roster decisions throughout the majority of his tenure in New England. Jerod Mayo has replaced Belichick as head coach, but the Patriots still need what they previously referred to as a “primary football executive.”
Eliot Wolf has been operating as the de facto general manager of the Patriots since Belichick left. He is viewed as the favorite to remain in charge of the team’s football operations department. Even if they ultimately give Wolf the job, the Patriots would first have to satisfy the Rooney Rule by interviewing at least two external minority candidates.
Satisfying the Rooney Rule could prove to be challenging for the Patriots, as several minority candidates have declined interview requests.
#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
Former Cardinals VP of player personnel Quentin Harris has declined an interview with the Patriots for their head of football operations job, source says. Harris, recently released by Arizona, has previously interviewed for 3 GM jobs.
— Jonathan Jones (@jjones9) May 7, 2024
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
Ben Volin of the Boston Globe reported on Monday that the Patriots have already satisfied the Rooney Rule. If that were the case, they probably would not be requesting to interview (and being turned down by) multiple minority candidates when everyone knows Wolf is their guy.
Eventually, the Patriots will conclude the process. It would be a surprise if the outcome is something other than Wolf being promoted to a role he is likely already occupying.
