The New England Patriots are entering a new era without head coach Bill Belichick, who also served as the team’s de facto general manager over the years. And while the organization has filled the head coaching vacancy with Jerod Mayo, they have struggled mightily to find the right fit for their GM vacancy.
According to Pro Football Talk, the Patriots have reached out to several front-office candidates but have struggled to find many candidates who are all that interested in taking the job. They most recently expressed interest in Buffalo Bills Director of Player Personnel Terrence Gray to fill the vacancy, but Gray “politely declined”.
It’s unclear exactly why the organization has a lack of suitors for this vacant position. But it could obviously become a problem with Belichick out of town if they aren’t able to fill the role before the start of the 2024-25 season.
They do have one name already in their organization who has been speculated to potentially be their next general manager, Director of Scouting Eliot Wolf.
If this is the case and the organization is simply conducting interviews to save face, that could be a problem as well, largely because of the Rooney Rule.
The Rooney Rule requires teams to at least interview two minority or female candidates for vacant general manager positions in an effort to uphold racial and gender equality in NFL front offices. Gray does indeed qualify as one candidate for the Rooney Rule.
So, there is an obvious question to ask. Are the Patriots simply going through the motions in their GM search to follow the Rooney Rule, already knowing that Eliot Wolf is going to eventually get the job? Or do they truly not know who their next GM is going to be?
Regardless, either scenario is a bit of a bad look for them. And fans made sure to point that out on social media.
i didn't blame these guys. they know they're token minority interviews. If i was a candidate, I'd ask them to for a first class RT flight, two nights @InterConHotels and a round @TPCBoston
— PFN new media (@pfnnewmedia) May 7, 2024
Cause everyone and their mama knows it’s wolfs job.
— Proto Drake (@Tevinreadslit) May 7, 2024
Wolfe is the guy. They are trying to fulfill the Rooney rule which should be a insult to minorities.
— Eastside BOSTON Pats Fan (@TB12foreva) May 7, 2024
Cause they all know the Rooney Rule is a dog and pony show and Wolfe already has the job.
— Son of Fenrir (@dump74217) May 7, 2024
It’s understandable for minority GM candidates like Terrence Gray to decline the interview with the Patriots if they indeed know that it is ultimately more for show than anything else.
But regardless, not having a GM at this point in the NFL offseason is obviously a bit questionable considering NFL free agency and the 2024 NFL Draft have both already passed…
