RJ Gillen is in his 10th season with the 49ers and first as director of player personnel. He spent the previous three seasons (2021-23) as director of pro personnel after serving five years as a pro personnel scout. He joined the 49ers as an assistant in the scouting department from 2015-16.
In his role, Gillen is responsible for overseeing and managing the daily operations of the player personnel department and advising General Manager John Lynch and Head Coach Kyle Shanahan on personnel decisions and team building strategies. Gillen helps prepare the club for acquisitions throughout the year with his pro and college player evaluations and assistance in the construction of the pro free agency and college draft boards.
Additionally, Gillen works closely with the coaching staff and various other departments to establish consistency in the scouting process and alignment throughout the organization. He collaborates with the football administration staff on contract negotiations, market analysis, and roster management strategies and works in conjunction with the R&D department to develop creative approaches to optimize and improve efficiency in decision-making and apply data for team and scheme-specific evaluations.
Prior to joining the 49ers, Gillen gained front office experience in the NBA with the San Antonio Spurs where he assisted the team in preparation for the NBA draft and free agency. Gillen began his career working in sports at Shapiro Negotiations Institute in Baltimore, MD, where he assisted in consulting and deal coaching for NBA, NFL, and MLB front offices.
Through his varied academic and professional experiences, Gillen has gained unique knowledge and perspective on the intersection of sports, law, and technology, which he applies to continually improve processes and seek competitive advantages in personnel evaluation, roster management, player acquisition, and contract negotiation.
A native of Memphis, TN, Gillen graduated from Marquette University School of Law with a focus on sports law in May of 2014. He is a member of the Texas Bar and Wisconsin Bar. Gillen earned his bachelor of science in sports administration and leadership from Louisiana State University where he was a member of the LSU football team from 2007-10 and won a BCS National Championship in 2007. He and his wife, Natalie, have two daughters, Grace and Gigi.