Packers extend GM Brian Gutekunst

The Green Bay Packers have been one of the winningest franchises in the NFL over the past three seasons. They have gone 41-13, including playoffs. They have won three consecutive NFC North Titles and appeared in two NFC Championship Games over the last three years. Arguably one of the main reasons why the Packers have been so incredibly successful of late is because of general manager Brian Gutekunst and the work he has done to put the best team on the field for head coach Matt LaFleur. His elite work in the front office has set him up for the future. Packers president and CEO Mark Murphy announced Monday that the franchise had signed Gutekunst to a contract extension earlier this offseason.

Before taking over in 2018 for legendary Packers general manager Ted Thompson, Gutekunst spent 14 seasons as a scout for the Packers (1998-2011). He would hold the role of Director of College Scouting from 2012-2015, and then Director of Player Personnel from 2016-2017. What was so important about Gutekunst's role as GM in 2018 and early into 2019 was guiding the franchise out of the dark days after former Packers head coach Mike McCarthy was let go. He and Packers brass hired then-Titans offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur, who would take the Packers back to their old ways of winning. In the last four seasons as Packers general manager, Gutekunst has drafted the likes of cornerback Jaire Alexander (All-Pro), guard Elgton Jenkins (Pro Bowl), A.J. Dillon (led Packers in rushing in 2021), and cornerback Eric Stokes (led all rookies in passes defensed in 2021). He has also signed the likes of tight end Robert Tonyan (led all tight ends in touchdowns in 2020), receiver Allen Lazard (career season in 2021), linebacker De'Vondre Campbell (First-Team All-Pro), and safety Adrian Amos (team captain).

Gutekunst gets a lot of negativity for drafting quarterback Jordan Love in the first round in 2020. Sure, he could also be a little bit more aggressive in terms of free agency. However, this team has the most wins over the last three years in the NFL. He is one of the best general managers in the sport. He will be guiding this winning Packers franchise into the future, which hopefully includes a Super Bowl ring for Gutekunst. That has been the one thing that has eluded Gutekunst during his time at the helm with Green Bay.