We are a week away from the start of training camp, and the Carolina Panthers decided it was time for some bombshell news. The team announced on Monday that general manager Dave Gettleman has been fired.
The move comes as most teams are wrapping up front office vacations and finishing training camp preparations. There is already speculation owner Jerry Richardson was not happy with how Josh Norman and Steve Smith departed. I imagine a press conference will offer some clarity, but the whole thing is rather surprising given the timing.
The Panthers will begin their search process, but Gettleman’s next stop will be something to track. I took a quick look at his resume, and Gettleman previously spent a lot of time with the New York Giants. He joined the organization in 1998 as a scout, was promoted to pro personnel director in 1999, and then was promoted to senior pro personnel analyst in 2012. He was hired by Carolina in 2013 to become their general manager.
While looking through his resume, I did notice on interesting thing. From 1994 to 1997 he was a scout with the Denver Broncos. Mike Shanahan took over as head coach in 1995. I’m not sure what happened from 1995 to 1997, but if Gettleman and Shanahan had a good relationship, maybe Papa Shanahan makes a call to his son and John Lynch. This is entirely a reach by me for the time being, but it’s a connection.
My guess is if Gettleman does not take this season off, the Giants would make a lot of sense. But, with John Lynch still new on the job, maybe the 49ers give Gettleman a call to do some consulting.