The San Francisco 49ers continued their general manager search on Thursday, interviewing Green Bay Packers director of player personnel Brian Gutekunst.
Gutekunst joined his colleague Eliot Wolf, Green Bay's director-football operations, as the first candidates to speak with CEO Jed York for San Francisco's GM vacancy.
The 43-year-old talent evaluator has spent the past 18 seasons in the Packers front office. Gutekunst spent 13 years as a college scout, before being promoted to director of college scouting for four seasons (2012-15), which was followed by a promotion to his current post on March 21, 2016.
Gutekunst has been a part of Green Bay's tremendous success over the past two decades. The Packers have made 14 playoff appearances during his 18-year tenure. Green Bay has made seven consecutive appearances in the postseason, including a victory in Super Bowl XLV over the Pittsburgh Steelers following the 2010 regular season.
Notable Green Bay draft selections during Gutekunst's tenure include, two-time league MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers, six-time Pro Bowl outside linebacker Clay Matthews, and star wide receiver Jordy Nelson among numerous starters on a 10-6, NFC North champion squad in 2016.
Gutekunst joined the Packers in 1997 as a scouting intern before he was hired full-time in December of the following season. He began his full-time scouting career as an East Coast scout and was hired by Pro Football Hall of Fame executive vice president/general manager, Ron Wolf.
Gutekunst played two seasons of college football for the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. He later served as an assistant coach for the program for his final two years at the school (1995-96).
He and his wife, Jen, reside in Green Bay and have four children, including three daughters and one son.
