The New England Patriots have yet to name Bill Belichick’s successor as the team’s general manager, but a frontrunner appears to be on the horizon.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Wednesday that director of scouting Elliott Wolff “will take over the personnel department, oversee the 53-man roster and work closely with Jerrod Mayo.”According to Rapoport, director of athletics Matt Groh oversees the university’s research. This means Wolf will likely take on more of a GM role, but may not be given that position outright. New England also added former Miami Hurricanes general manager of football operations Alonzo Highsmith to its staff on Wednesday, but his position has not been announced.
Highsmith has spent the past two seasons in the NFL after years with the Green Bay Packers (2012-17), Cleveland Browns vice president of player personnel (2018-19) and personnel manager for the Hurricanes. Seattle Seahawks (2020-22). Belichick, who served as New England’s de facto general manager during his 24-year career with the team, previously had the final say on the Pats’ selections. The last time the Patriots had an official general manager without a head coaching job was Bobby Grier, who was the head coach from 1997-99.
In fact, two of the last three New England general managers have held the dual role of head coach.Other than Belichick (.720 winning percentage), the winningest GM in Patriots franchise history is Chuck Fairbanks, who went 41-31 (.569 winning percentage) from 1974-78. Besides Belichick, only two of the 14 GMs in team history have lasted more than five seasons: Pat Sullivan (1983-90) and Mike Holovac (1961-68).
