Patriots Finally Book First Outside Interview for Top Front Office Job
The theme of the New England Patriots facing rejection has continued after the team's failed pursuit of star wide receiver Calvin Ridley. New England has officially opened up a search for a new top decision-maker in its front office, but has been turned down by three different candidates to this point -- likely due to Eliot Wolf being the massive favorite for the job.
However, the Pats' fortunes on the interview front have finally changed,
The Patriots are interviewing Eagles director of scouting Brandon Hunt for their primary football executive position tomorrow in Foxboro, per sources. It’s the first known external interview New England has conducted for the job.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) May 7, 2024
Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer reports New England is bringing in Brandon Hunt, who is currently the director of scouting for the Philadelphia Eagles, for an audition on Wednesday in Foxboro.
This is a big breakthrough for the Pats. It's obvious Wolf's strong involvement in every major decision this offseason has caused top GM and executive candidates to run the other way when asked to discuss this job. After all, no one wants to take part in a sham interview just to help a team with a preferred candidate satisfy NFL rules around the hiring process.
Yet, with Hunt agreeing to talk, that could open the door for other front office hopefuls to agree as well. Especially since Hunt is an accomplished veteran on the operations side who's currently on one of the most well-run organizations in the entire league.
It's no surprise New England is interested in seeing how Hunt could help transform this franchise. He's worked his way up the scouting foodchain since getting involved on that side of football, first latching on with the Pittsburgh Steelers (who happened to win a Super Bowl in 2005) as an intern.
Hunt then landed a pro scouting job with the Houston Texans, but eventually returned to Pittsburgh for over a decade as their scouting coordinator. That paved the way for his hiring in Philadelphia in 2022, and the Eagles' success in recent drafts certainly reflects Hunt's skills as a talent evaluator.
Having someone who knows what to look for in prospects could be a major asset for the Patriots as they embark on a youth-led rebuild following Bill Belichick.
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