The San Francisco 49ers were planning on giving Green Bay Packers director of football operations Eliot Wolf a second interview for their vacant general manager position. That interview will not happen.
Wolf has reportedly withdrawn his name from consideration.
This was the first opportunity the Packers gave Wolf to interview elsewhere. They granted the same opportunity to director of player personnel Brian Gutekunst, who is reportedly the frontrunner for the 49ers’ job. Gutekunst, Minnesota Vikings assistant general manager George Paton and Arizona Cardinals vice president of player personnel Terry McDonough are currently the only known remaining candidates.
Why would Wolf bow out?
You can start with the Packers giving him another raise, which has become an almost annual tradition. The 49ers’ situation doesn’t appear to be a terribly desirable one either. A number of coaching and GM candidates took themselves out of consideration prior to Wolf.
That probably starts with owner Jed York, who doesn’t seemed to be liked by anyone.
Whoever ends up being the GM will be stuck with Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan as head coach. The 49ers made that decision prior to securing a general manager, when typically the GM is hired and then chooses the coach.
There has also been speculation regarding the future of Packers’ general manager Ted Thompson. It has been suggested that he might take on an advisory role after the season and relinquish the top job. That would leave an opening for Wolf, possibly Russ Ball or perhaps even Kansas City GM John Dorsey to step into.
Our guess at this point is that the Packers either made assurances to Wolf or Thompson isn’t going anywhere.