The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Browns to meet with Packers official Wolf
The Browns front office could have a strong Green Bay Packers influence by the time new General Manager John Dorsey gets done reshaping it.
Dorsey wants to hire current Packers Director of Football Operations Eliot Wolf for a role in the Browns’ personnel department, and will meet with him this week, according to a league source.
Dorsey, a former linebacker and 1984 draft pick by the Packers, spent 21 seasons in their personnel department before taking the job of general manager with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2013.
Three days after the season 2017 season ended and four weeks after he was hired as Browns general manager, Dorsey on Jan. 3 named Alonzo Highsmith vice president of football operations. Although the Browns have yet to announce hiring Highsmith, the banner on the former running back’s twitter page is the Dawg Pound logo.
Eliot Wolf is the son for former Packers general manager Ron Wolf, who is in the Hall of Fame. The younger Wolf is under contract with the Packers, which means the Browns will need permission to talk to him.
“He obviously has other opportunities if he wants them. But I’m very hopeful that he’ll be here,” Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said during a news conference on Jan 8, referring to Eliot Wolf.
Gutekunst was named Green Bay’s GM on Jan. 7 as the replacement for Ted Thompson. Eliot Wolf, 35, was considered for the general manager job. So was Russ Ball, who was promoted from vice president of football administration/player finance to executive vice president/ director of football operations. Gutekunst had been the director of football operations.
Packers CEO Mike Murphy announced the promotions in a news release. He said Gutekunst, Ball and head coach Mike McCarthy will report directly to him. Wolf was not mentioned in the release.
Eliot Wolf has worked 14 seasons with the Packers. He and Dorsey worked nine seasons together in Green Bay.
In other news, the Browns are expected to interview Bengals offensive coordinator Ken Zampese for an offensive coaching position (not necessarily offensive coordinator) on Jan. 9 and Texans quarterbacks coach Sean Ryan for offensive coordinator on Jan. 10, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.