Patriots Name Eliot Wolf EVP of Player Personnel After Bill Belichick Exit

Adam WellsMay 11, 2024

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Even though Eliot Wolf has been the person primarily in charge of running the New England Patriots since Bill Belichick’s departure in January, he finally has an official title with the organization.

Patriots owner Robert Kraft announced on Saturday that Wolf has been named executive vice president of player personnel:

“As I have started multiple times during the offseason, the plan was to observe the working relationship and involvement between Eliot and Jerod and see how they managed our offseason personnel decisions. Then, following the draft we would formally undertake a process for setting up the permanent structure of our personnel department. I have been impressed with Eliot’s management style and experience and I’m excited that he has agreed to take on this new position.”

This means the Patriots will continue to operate without an official general manager. Wolf has served as the de facto general manager since the departure of Belichick, who held the de facto role for his entire 24-season tenure as head coach.

Tom Pelissero @TomPelisseroSo the post-Bill Belichick Patriots still won’t have a general manager in title. But Eliot Wolf’s role will include many GM duties: overall direction of the personnel department, management of the salary cap and in control of the 53-man roster. https://t.co/CcVCQYCQku

Wolf told reporters at the NFL scouting combine in February he was given final say over all personnel decisions, including in the 2024 draft, for the Patriots.

Ron Wolf, Eliot’s father, spent 10 seasons as general manager for the Green Bay Packers from 1991 to 2000. Eliot got his start in the NFL with the Packers working in the personnel department for 14 seasons from 2004 to ’16.

During his combine press conference, Wolf said he was adjusting the Patriots’ grading system for draft prospects to make it “a little bit more similar to what we did in Green Bay.”

The first major decision of Wolf’s tenure was to select North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye with the No. 3 pick in the 2024 draft. He will be tasked with stabilizing New England’s offense after a volatile three-year stretch for Mac Jones.

Other notable roster moves made by the Patriots this offseason include drafting wide receiver Ja’Lynn Polk in the second round and re-signing free agents Mike Onwenu, Josh Uche and Kyle Dugger.

Wolf worked for two seasons as an assistant general manager for the Cleveland Browns before joining the Patriots in March 2020 as a consultant. He held that title for two seasons before being promoted to director of scouting in 2022.

The Patriots finished last in the AFC East with a 4-13 record in 2023. It was the first time they finished lower than third in the division since Belichick’s first season in 2000. They have posted losing records three times in the past four seasons.