Bill Belichick's time in New England is drawing to an inglorious end. That means the Patriots will be in the market for not only a new head coach but also a new general manager.
So, who could they look to as the new era begins?
Potential GM candidate #1: Sophie Harlan
Sophie Harlan is a trailblazer as a sports executive, but growing up, she had no intention of working in sports. She is the NFL's first Director of Football Operations with the Rams. Before she joined the Rams’ Operations department in 2016, she worked at UC Berkley in their football recruitment department while Jared Goff was there.
Harlan’s tenure in Los Angeles predates Sean McVay’s arrival. So, she has first-hand experience with a franchise that went from a 4-12 record to a Conference champions win in just two seasons. And she’s watched as the Rams player personnel department has drafted the likes of Kyren Williams and Puka Nacua.
Season 3 is here!
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) September 11, 2020
Sunday's opener of SoFi stadium would not be possible without Sophie Harlan.
As the NFL's first female Director of Football Operations, Sophie is breaking barriers and proving that #FootballIsFemale, presented by @MercedesBenzUSA. @OnHerTurf pic.twitter.com/It0xyeBACi
Potential GM candidate #2: R.J Gillen
Speaking of people who have been involved in drafting some potential NFL superstars, R.J. Gillen has worked in the 49ers’ scouting department since 2015. So, he’s been a part of the group that has drafted the likes of Trent Brown with a 7th-round pick. George Kittle with a 5th-round pick and Fred Warner with a 3rd-round pick are big wins, too!
Gillen is a Juris Doctor of Sports Law, Contracts, and Negotiations, too; if that doesn’t just scream “future GM,” what does? He began his career at Shapiro, Robinson, and Associates where he worked on players’ contract arbitration talks with the MLB.
He has also worked for the San Antonio Spurs Basketball Operations department. Gillen will definitely be a GM somewhere, whether in the NBA or the NFL.
Potential GM candidate #3: Chad Alexander
Following that line of thinking, former Wake Forest fullback Alexander should be a general manager somewhere, too. But, unlike Gillen Alexander has a bit of an “unconscious bias” issue to deal with. Alexander spent 20 years as an executive with the Ravens before he began working with Gang Green.
Alexander has been the Jets’ Director of Player Personnel for the last five years, so he definitely knows his way around the AFC East. As part of the Jets' scouting department, he was involved in drafting both the offensive and defensive rookie of the year in 2022. Sauce Gardner and Garrett Wilson were both first-round picks, though, so they should have been good.
More impressively, Alexander also drafted Breece Hall with the 36th pick in 2022 and Israel Abanikanda with the 143rd pick this year. And he found Michael Carter in the 4th round back in 2021. Why the Jets love drafting running backs is another question.
Potential GM candidate #4: George Kokinis
Alexander is a former Ravens executive, and Kokinis is a current Ravens executive. Like Alexander, he’s a director of player personnel. And what a group of players the Ravens have now (Zay Flowers, Kyle Hamilton, and Keaton Mitchell anyone?).
Kokinis is a Connecticut native who has already had a shot at being a GM. He was at the Browns in 2009 when a new head coach, Eric Mangini, arrived from the Jets. That went as well as you would imagine; the Browns fired Kokinis after a 1-7 start.
But that Browns 2009 draft class was something to behold. Hall of Famer Alex Mack was the first-round pick, and Mohamed Massaquoi was the 50th pick in that Draft. And fourth-round pick Kaluka Maiava played 63 games in the NFL.
But the jewel in the crown was Don Carey; he was the 177th pick in 2009 and went on to play in the NFL for nine years! If the Patriots are looking for an old head experienced in navigating rocky patches, Kokinis would be a wise choice.
Potential GM candidate #5: Adam Al-Khayyal
From a former Browns executive to a current one. Al-Khayyal has worked for the Browns since 2015, beginning as an intern and quickly working his way up to become Director of Pro Scouting at the tender age of 34!
Princeton graduate (and former wide receiver) Al-Khayyal was flagged as a potential Jaguars GM candidate back in 2020. He’ll be interviewed by all the teams looking for a fresh perspective in their front office. And the Patriots could use his scouting experience since they’re projected to be picking in the top 5 of the first six rounds come April.