Packers’ Brian Gutekunst withdraws from 49ers’ GM search

The Green Bay Packers’ front office remains intact for another year.

Two Packers executives interviewed with the San Francisco 49ers this month for their vacant general manager job. However, one day after reports surfaced about Eliot Wolf getting a new contract to stay in Green Bay as director of football operations, ESPN’s Adam Schefter has reported that Brian Gutekunst is also choosing to stay in Green Bay rather than continue pursuing the GM job.

Gutekunst was viewed as the leading candidate for the position, even before Wolf pulled out of the running, but instead he will return to Green Bay as the team’s director of player personnel. Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel has suggested that Gutekunst received a raise and a new contract, in addition to the same for Wolf.

This leaves Minnesota Vikings assistant GM George Paton as the only remaining candidate from the reported “top three” for the job.

Gutekunst’s return should bolster the Packers’ college scouting department as they prepare for the 2017 NFL Draft over the coming months. He served as the team’s director of college scouting in the past after more than ten years as a scout for the franchise.

Under Ted Thompson’s tenure as general manager, three of his subordinates have found GM jobs across the NFL: John Schneider in Seattle, John Dorsey in Kansas City, and Reggie McKenzie in Oakland. Wolf and Gutekunst may indeed have opportunities in the future, but for now that tree will stay with just three branches.