Seahawks seeking permission to interview G.M. candidates

The Seattle Seahawks will be hiring a new General Manager.  They’ve been using a search firm to identify candidates.

And we’re now told that the Seahawks have launched the process of seeking permission to interview candidates who currently are employed by other teams.

Previously, a front-office employee couldn’t be interviewed for a G.M. job with other teams until the employee’s team season ended.  As of last year, however, the NFL adopted a procedure that allows teams to grant non-high-level employees permission to interview for high-level jobs.

That said, the employee can’t be hired until his current team’s season ends.  And the employee’s current team may decline the interview request.

The specific language of the rule appears right here.

Last year, for example, the Browns interviewed former Ravens director of pro personnel George Kokinis for the G.M. job while the Ravens’ playoff run was still alive.  Then, a day after the Ravens lost to the Steelers in the AFC title game, Kokinis had a second interview.

Of the ten candidates we identified last month (Cardinals director of player personnel Steve Keim, Chargers director of
player personnel Jimmy Raye, Eagles G.M. Tom Heckert, Ravens director
of player personnel Eric DeCosta, Packers director of football
operations John Schneider, Patriots senior football adviser Floyd
Reese, Patriots pro personnel director Jason Licht, 49ers director
of player personnel Trent Baalke, Chargers executive Randy Mueller, and Seahawks interim G.M. Ruston Webster), nine are with other teams and eight have made the playoffs.

So unless permission is given, the Seahawks could be waiting a while to talk to the guys in whom they’re interested.