Brian Gutekunst, Sean Payton and the intense pursuit of a quarterback
Everyone knows that jobs are on the line. The next few weeks mean everything for a third of the league.
INDIANAPOLIS — The scene inside Hall J of the Indianapolis Convention Center can feel more like a summer music festival the first day of NFL Combine. A horde of general managers and coaches speak in 15-minute intervals at adjacent podiums with media members naturally floating toward the most fascinating subjects.
Sure, Brian Callahan is discussing collaboration with his new Tennessee Titans boss but over there? Hello, Sean Payton. The Denver Broncos coach sounded like a man eager to eat his $39 million burger and say goodbye to Russell Wilson. The 60-year-old coach was predictably swarmed.
Not only is all public interest directed at the quarterback position this week. The individual stress levels of GMs and coaches and scouts here in Indy are undoubtedly tied to seismic decisions ahead at the position. Roughly one-third of the NFL is in the market for new starting quarterbacks this season. Multiple vet options are available. Kirk Cousins! Justin Fields! The draft again features prospects — Caleb Williams? Drake Maye? Jayden Daniels? J.J. McCarthy? Michael Penix Jr? Bo Nix? — who again could either vault you to the Super Bowl podium or eject you to a future Combine without a team logo on your jacket, looking for employment.
No teams actively hunting for a QB broadcasted their detailed plans to the masses, but GMs and coaches did express what they seek in a new quarterback.
This can be an anxious time of year not knowing who’ll be the new face of your team.
Then, there’s Brian Gutekunst at Podium No. 4. Last year, his four-time MVP quarterback was fresh out of a darkness retreat. And before chatting with the GM, Aaron Rodgers instead hopped on the Aubrey Marcus podcast to detail the smoothness of his “dumps.” We reported back then that the Packers were finished with Rodgers and eager to turn the offense over to Jordan Love. There was obviously only so much Gutekunst could say then — but the Packers were on the verge of entering the great unknown.