Buffalo Bills assistant general manager Joe Schoen could be on the move. On Sunday, NFL Network connected him to three different GM openings around the league; the Carolina Panthers, Atlanta Falcons, and Washington Football Team. Schoen has also been linked to the Houston Texans’ opening.
Update: The Panthers made it official, requesting permission as soon as their game was over.
The #Panthers have begun to put in their requests to interview GM candidates. The first three: #Patriots Director of Player Personnel Nick Caserio, #Bills assistant GM Joe Schoen, and #Browns VP of Football Operations Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. There will be more.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 3, 2021
Schoen was a heavily rumored name last January but I can’t seem to find a time when he actually interviewed for a GM job. He’s the second-in-command to potential NFL Executive of the Year, general manager Brandon Beane. Schoen came over from the Miami Dolphins in 2017 having served as the team’s director of pro personnel. Before that, he spent years in the Carolina Panthers’ scouting department alongside Beane.
Currently, personnel men from any NFL team can interview for an open GM spot but they need to do it virtually. Starting Monday, if your team has been eliminated from the postseason you can travel to do in-person interviews.
Bills’ director of pro personnel Malik Boyd has already interviewed for the vacant general manager position with the Houston Texans. Buffalo also has strong GM candidates in Dan Morgan (director of player personnel) and Brian Gaine (senior advisor and former Texans GM). They have developed depth to handle the inevitable hiring of their talented staff members, whether it happens in 2021 or beyond.