The Patriots have officially filled their key positions post-Bill Belichick, appointing Eliot Wolf as their executive VP of player personnel, following Jerod Mayo’s hiring as coach a few months ago.

The search for these roles was minimal, with the Patriots only interviewing two external candidates for the GM position due to a contract clause allowing them to bypass the Rooney Rule.

During the search, which saw several executives decline interviews, the Patriots met with Eagles scouting director Brandon Hunt and former Panthers exec Samir Suleiman. Eventually, the hiring of Wolf was widely expected, making the total number of external candidates interviewed for these key roles very low compared to other teams.

Wolf, who had been working as the acting personnel chief, was given the full-time role as the Patriots did not look elsewhere for a lead executive. This decision was anticipated by many in the league given Wolf’s extensive experience in the NFL.

Wolf has brought changes to the Patriots’ scouting system and organizational structure, now reporting directly to ownership along with Jerod Mayo. This marks a shift in the team’s approach compared to the Belichick era.

With Wolf now leading the front office, the Patriots look ahead to their first season post-Belichick, having reached their Mayo-Wolf conclusion without extensive searches.