The Patriots have been on the lookout for a new General Manager, sparking questions about whether they have complied with the Rooney Rule. The rule requires teams to report to the league the names of people they have interviewed, but they are not obligated to make these names public. Some candidates prefer to remain anonymous, which adds an element of secrecy to the process.
According to Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald, the Patriots have complied with the Rooney Rule in their search for a new GM. They fulfilled this requirement prior to the draft as well, since there was no singular person in the primary personnel position at the time. The team reportedly had multiple candidates decline to interview due to the perception that Eliot Wolf may be favored for the job.
Two external candidates have agreed to interview for the position – former Panthers director Samir Suleiman and Eagles director Brandon Hunt. While discretion may be requested by candidates during the interview process, it is generally expected that all candidates who do not request anonymity should be publicly announced. Teams are not required to disclose their efforts to comply with the Rooney Rule to the public, only to the league. The Patriots, like all other teams, are only obligated to inform the league about their compliance efforts.