The Green Bay Packers remain in the playoffs. Their director of football operations Eliot Wolf remains a candidate for the general manager job with the San Francisco 49ers. As does Packers director of player personnel Brian Gutekunst. In fact, Michael Silver of NFL Media believes that Gutekunst is the frontrunner for the job. The 49ers reportedly left their initial interview with Gutekunst very impressed.
Both Wolf and Gutekunst will go through second interviews with the 49ers, who will not be joined by Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan. Shanahan is expected to become San Francisco's new head coach. The news of Wolf comes from Tom Pelissero of USA TODAY Sports. Minnesota Vikings assistant general manager George Paton will also have a second interview next week. News of Gutekunst and Paton comes from Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee.
Count #Packers exec Eliot Wolf among the GM candidates #49ers will invite to Atlanta next week to interview with Kyle Shanahan, source said.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 18, 2017
Eliot Wolf (Packers), Brian Gutekunst (Packers), and George Paton (Vikings) will meet with Shanahan and the #49ers next week for the GM job.
— 49ers Webzone (@49erswebzone) January 18, 2017
The 49ers cannot officially hire Shanahan until the Falcons are no longer involved in postseason play. Silver reported on Tuesday that the 49ers are ready to offer Shanahan a multi-year deal and the Atlanta coordinator is ready to accept.
The 49ers can meet with Shanahan next week regardless of what happens. If the Falcons beat the Packers in the NFC Championship Game, Atlanta will enjoy a bye week before the Super Bowl and the 49ers will meet with Shanahan to go over general manager candidates that he would like to be paired with. If the Falcons lose to the Packers, then the 49ers will meet with Shanahan to officially present the offer.
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The 49ers will have to wait for Wolf or Gutekunst as well. Like Shanahan with the Falcons, San Francisco cannot officially hire either as the general manager until the Packers are no longer playing. The 49ers can hire Paton immediately.
Wolf, the son of former NFL general manager Ron Wolf, joined the Packers as a pro personnel assistant in 2004. He became assistant director of pro personnel in 2008 and assistant director of player personnel in 2011. In 2015, Wolf became the director of player personnel and in March of 2016, he was promoted to director of football operations with the Packers.
Gutekunst was promoted to his current position at the same time as Wolf's latest promotion. He has been within the Packers' player personnel department for 18 years, serving as a scout and eventually the director of college scouting.
Paton has turned down several opportunities over the past several years but remains interested in the 49ers' job.