Brian

Gutekunst

Russ Ball, the team’s executive vice president and director of football, was also extended. Deals for executives and coaches aren’t subject to cap implications, so they don’t receive the same coverage as player contracts. With Arizona’s Steve Keim and Kliff Kingsbury getting extended through 2027 earlier this year, we can expect something similar for the Packers’ brass. LaFleur joined the team three years ago and has never won fewer than 13 games. The Packers have made the NFC Championship twice since he arrived. Directly from Demovsky, “It would be bigger news if the Packers didn’t extend them this offseason.”

The Packers lifer had been in poor health since suffering a stroke in 2014. One of the greatest quarterbacks of all-time, Starr spent his entire 16-year career with the Packers, earning MVP honors in 1966 while winning five championships including Super Bowls I and II. The Alabama alum later returned to Green Bay as the team’s head coach, serving in that capacity for nine seasons. The Bart Starr Award has been given out annually in his honor since 1989. The Hall of Famer will be missed.

Bleacher Report’s Tyler Dunne, a former top Bills and Packers beat writer, has been campaigning for Gutekunst to get the gig. Gutekunst is a highly-regarded name and rising star in the front office part of the sport. He has been at his post in Green Bay since 2012 and broke into the league in the late-90s. Gutekunst was considered the “favorite” for the 49ers’ GM job, but he backed out early in the process before the job went to FOX Sports analyst John Lynch.

Signing just one player would be more active than Thompson, but Wood is likely hinting at Gutekunst looking to build the roster with a lot more veteran help. That said, Thompson built a perennial contender with his draft-and-develop approach, so the Packers are not going to abandon the idea completely. If they plan to be more active in free agency, it would make sense to retain VP of football administration Russ Ball, who handled contract negotiations under Thompson.

Gutekunst was in the running for the 49ers and Bills’ GM openings last offseason but opted to stay in Green Bay under a new contract, likely with an eye toward eventually replacing Ted Thompson. The Packers have a number of highly-sought in-house options, including Eliot Wolf, Russ Ball, and Alonzo Highsmith. Some feathers are likely to be ruffled with whichever way Green Bay goes.

Gutekunst is also in the running to replace Ted Thompson in Green Bay. The Texans are making changes to their front office with EVP Rick Smith taking a season away from the team. Gutekunst has been a riser over the last few years, getting interest for both the Buffalo and San Francisco GM jobs. Houston has been connected to Bills VP of personnel Brian Gaine, Eagles VP of personnel Joe Douglas, and Cowboys VP of personnel Will McClay.

Gutekunst was in the running to replace Ted Thompson in Green Bay, so it cannot be ruled out that he will be promoted to general manager. We should find out some time in the next 24 hours.

Gutekunst was supposed to interview for the Texans’ GM vacancy on Sunday, but canceled to accept a new job with the Pack. We now know it was the top job, though the Houston Chronicle’s John McClain reports Gutekunst will “split” GM duties with VP of football administration Russ Ball. It would seem Gutekunst will handle personnel and the draft while Ball deals with the cap and contracts. Gutekunst has spent the past 19 years in the Packers’ front office, and past two as director of player personnel.