Patriots
Wolf served as the Patriots’ de facto general manager following Bill Belichick’s departure.
The Patriots made the inevitable official on Saturday.
Eliot Wolf has been named the Patriots’ executive vice president of player personnel, the team announced. In his new role, Wolf will oversee “the overall direction of the personnel department, the management of the salary cap and in control of the 53-man roster.”
After mutually parting ways with Bill Belichick in January, the Patriots opted not to name a direct successor for his front-office role as the team’s de facto general manager. However, Wolf was tabbed as the chief roster decision maker as the team waited until after the 2024 NFL Draft to conduct its search to find a new head of football operations.
That search began this past week, with multiple candidates reportedly turning down interviews as Wolf was the presumptive favorite for the job. Former Panthers cap chief Samir Suleiman and Eagles exec Brandon Hunt eventually interviewed for the job, the Monday Morning Quarterback’s Albert Breer reported.
Wolf has been with the Patriots since 2020, first joining as a consultant before being promoted to director of scouting in 2022. As he was the de facto general manager this offseason, Wolf helped the Patriots re-sign a handful of players and selected Drake Maye with the third overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
“As I have stated multiple times during the offseason, the plan was to observe the working relationship and involvement between Eliot and Jerod and see how they managed our offseason personnel decisions,” Patriots owner Robert Kraft said in a statement. “Then, following the draft we would formally undertake a process for setting up the permanent structure of our personnel department. I have been impressed with Eliot’s management style and experience and I’m excited that he has agreed to take on this new position.”
Wolf, 42, has worked in the NFL since 2004. He began his career with the Packers, starting off as a pro personnel assistant before moving up to director of football operations in 2016.
As Wolf became a candidate for general manager roles, the Packers didn’t promote him when they had the chance to in 2018. He left the organization that offseason, joining the Browns as their assistant general manager. He held that role for two seasons before joining the Patriots.
“It is an honor to accept this position with the New England Patriots,” Wolf said in a statement. “I am grateful to the Kraft family for this opportunity and want to thank my family, especially my wife and children, for the support and strength they have given me as I move forward in my new role. I also want to thank all of the people I have worked with and learned from over the years.”
Wolf is the son of former Packers general manager and Pro Football Hall of Famer Ron Wolf.
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