The Patriots have begun the formal process to officially hire a de facto general manager, sources confirmed to Doug Kyed of The Boston Herald.

The news was first reported by CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones. Eliot Wolf, who served as de facto general manager during free agency and the draft, is considered a candidate.

The Patriots must conduct an official search to comply with the Rooney Rule, per Jones. That means the Patriots have to interview at least two external minority candidates in person before making a hiring.

The Patriots sent out interview requests on Monday, a source said.

It’s unclear whether the head of personnel will be named “general manager” or hold a different title. The Patriots have never given out the title of “general manager” since Robert Kraft owned the team. Bill Belichick, who parted ways with the team in January, previously was the team’s head of personnel as head coach.

The Patriots replaced Belichick as head coach with Jerod Mayo. They did not need to comply with the Rooney Rule in order to do so since it was written into Mayo’s previous contract that he would succeed Belichick.

Prior to the 2024 NFL Draft, Wolf was considered the prime candidate to continue as the team’s head of personnel. The Patriots selected quarterback Drake Maye third overall and filled needs at wide receiver with Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker and on the offensive line with Caedan Wallace and Layden Robinson.

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