The Green Bay Packers are trying to interview external candidates for their vacant general manager position, but they’re not having a lot of success.
The Packers reached out to the Minnesota Vikings and requested to interview assistant general manager George Paton. The Vikings denied the request, which they have a right to do since they’re in the playoffs.
Packers requested permission to interview Vikings asst GM George Paton for their GM job, per source. Vikings declined request.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 5, 2018
Paton would have been a really interesting candidate. You’ve obviously seen how Vikings’ general manager Rick Spielman has built up the team’s defense. That’s something Packers’ coach Mike McCarthy stressed during his season-ending news conference, saying the Packers need to build a defense that is better than their offense.
The second candidate to rebuff the Packers is a familiar face. The Packers reached out the Oakland Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie, a former personnel executive in Green Bay. McKenzie declined the interview request and will remain with the Raiders.
My understanding is that GM Reggie McKenzie’s role won’t be diminished with the arrival of Gruden. Proof: McKenzie declined a Green Bay request to interview for Packers GM job. #Raiders
— Jim Trotter (@JimTrotter_NFL) January 5, 2018
McKenzie had been at the top of our list and there was some speculation that Jon Gruden’s arrival as coach might diminish his responsibility. That will not be the case and so McKenzie will stay put.
The Packers are also interested in interviewing Baltimore Ravens assistant general manager Eric DeCosta. It isn’t known if DeCosta will agree to the interview. He has consistently passed on other opportunities to remain in Baltimore.
It would be awfully interesting if the Packers couldn’t get any outside candidates to interview. Many people have labeled the Packers’ opening as a plum job. Candidates were supposed to be banging down the door to get a chance to interview. That doesn’t appear to be the case right now.
Thus far, the Packers have only interviewed internal candidates — Eliot Wolf, Brian Gutekunst and Russ Ball.