Patriots Interview Another Ex-Steelers Exec for GM Role

One day after it was reported that the New England Patriots are interviewing former Pittsburgh Steelers top scout Brandon Hunt for their general manager role, it was reported that they have interviewed yet another longtime member of the Steelers front office. In addition to Hunt, the Patriots have completed an interview with former Steelers cap guru Samir Suleiman, according to a report by Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated.

Suleiman had interviewed to be the Carolina Panthers general manager earlier this offseason, and left the organization when he didn’t get the job. Former Carolina linebacker Dan Morgan was hired for that opening.

Suleiman left the Steelers to join the Panthers organization under former Steelers minority owner David Tepper in 2020. Before that, he worked closely under now-general manager Omar Khan as the mentee of the main ‘cap guy.’ That job is Cole Marcoux’s under the new-look Pittsburgh front office.

By interviewing Hunt and Suleiman, the Patriots have satisfied their Rooney Rule requirements for interviewing for their position, which will be titled executive vice president of football operations, according to Breer.

The Patriots have not had a general manager since 1990, though they have had top executives with other titles, most recently Scott Pioli, who was vice president of player personnel from 2000-08.

Bill Belichick was the team’s de facto general manger from then until his firing earlier this offseason. New head coach Jerod Mayo will not absorb that part of Belichick’s responsibilities. Director of scouting Elliot Wolf ran the team’s draft and has been considered the most likely candidate to step into the job. Our colleague Dan Kelly of Patriots Football Now expects Wolf to be named the team’s next general manager