Even with Bill Belichick gone, the Patriots will not employ a GM.
The New England Patriots have started the process of looking for a head executive to oversee their football operations department. While that person’s expected duties and responsibilities would very much fit the title, it will not be called “general manager.”
The last time the Patriots officially named a GM was in 1990, when Pat Sullivan held that role.
Instead, according to a report by Albert Breer of Spots Illustrated, the Patriots are looking for an “executive vice president of player personnel.” The position was registered with the league office recently, making the search official and necessitating following league requirements such as the Rooney Rule.
The new EVP is expected to have full roster control while also overseeing the scouting and personnel departments as well as the salary cap and analytics team. Like Jerod Mayo, who was promoted to head coach in January, he will report to the Patriots’ ownership — standard procedure, even though the role is now separate from the head coaching position for the first time in a quarter century.
Under Bill Belichick, head coach and general manager were the same person and the singular link between ownership and the Patriots’ football department. Now those roles will be split between Mayo and the yet-to-be-hired executive vice president of player personnel.
Who it will be remains to be seen. Director of scouting Eliot Wolf, who was given final say on roster decisions following Belichick’s departure, is considered the frontrunner to be promoted to what the NFL calls “primary football executive.”
New England also recently began interviewing external executives. Philadelphia Eagles director of scouting Brandon Hunt and former Carolina Panthers vice president of football administration Samir Suleiman both met with team representatives this week.
Even if they do get hired, the general manager title will remain unused in New England.
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