BG
Brian Gutekunst
GM since Jan 2018(8 years, 5 mo)
GM rankings — every move graded by contract value, sentiment, and fan votes.
F
F
F
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The Verdict on Brian, in One Read
On the Contract Value Index, Brian Gutekunst's front office has been significantly overpaying relative to production (F Contract Value Index). That ranks 17th of 32 on Sentiment among graded GMs. Reaction to the front office’s moves has been sharply negative (F Sentiment), drawn from current news and social signal. The crowd-sourced Fan Verdict currently sits at F.
About Brian Gutekunst
Background and career path of the Green Bay Packers general manager.
Path to the role
Gutekunst grew up around the game — his father, John Gutekunst, was head coach at Minnesota. He attended Wisconsin–La Crosse and coached linebackers there during a Division III national championship season before breaking into scouting with the Kansas City Chiefs in 1998. He joined the Packers as a scout in 1999 and spent two decades climbing the ranks under Ted Thompson, taking over as general manager in January 2018 when Thompson stepped into a reduced role.
Philosophy & notable moves
Gutekunst has shown a willingness to be aggressive that distinguished him from his predecessor. He drafted Jaire Alexander, Rashan Gary and — most boldly — quarterback Jordan Love in 2020 while Aaron Rodgers was still in his prime, then orchestrated the trade that sent Rodgers to the Jets in 2023 to hand the offense to Love. He has paired that draft-and-develop core with high-profile additions, including the blockbuster move to acquire pass rusher Micah Parsons.
Fun facts
- His father, John Gutekunst, was the head football coach at the University of Minnesota.
- He coached linebackers for a Division III national championship team at Wisconsin–La Crosse before entering scouting.
- He drafted Jordan Love in the first round in 2020 while Aaron Rodgers was still the starter, then traded Rodgers in 2023.
59
Transactions
59
Graded
0
Fan Votes
8 years
Tenure
League Comparison
#17
Sentiment Rank
of 32 GMs
#7
Most Active
59 moves
Contract Value
F
Poor contract value
OverpayFair ValueGreat Value
The Green Bay Packers have been paying a premium this season, with several contracts that outpace the expected production level. Across 45 contracts, 6 grade out as good value and 8 look like overpays based on comparable deals around the league. The best bang-for-the-buck deal was Zaire Franklin (A) at $9.0M/yr — getting linebacker production well above the price point. The priciest commitment relative to production was Bo Melton (D-) at $1.0M/yr. Cap flexibility could become a concern if these contracts don't produce at the expected level.
Public Sentiment
F
Poor reception
NegativeMixedPositive
Green Bay Packers' 2026 moves under Brian Gutekunst have drawn significant criticism from fans and media alike. Of 59 graded moves, 18 landed well with the fanbase, 21 drew mixed reactions, and 20 were viewed negatively. The standout move was bringing in Jager Burton (A+), which generated the most positive buzz. The most questioned decision was the Nate Hobbs cut (F), which drew the sharpest criticism. The fanbase remains split — some moves look promising while others need time to prove their worth.
Draft History (During Tenure)
Elite drafter — 86% hit rate (Rds 1-3)2026 Draft
All 2026 Transactions
B
B
SigningJun 15, 2026
Green Bay Packers sign TE Luke Lachey
F
F
ReleaseJun 15, 2026
Green Bay Packers release WR Jakobie Keeney-James
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About this general manager
Brian Gutekunst is the general manager of the Green Bay Packers, in his 8th year as the lead executive. FanVerdicts covers every NFL GM and the full body of moves they've made — and asks fans to render the verdict. Cast your Fan Verdict on Brian Gutekunst, see where the crowd lands, and argue the call. FanVerdicts brings its own read too — the contract value of the deals they signed, the performance of the players they assembled, and the sentiment around recent moves — as one honest input alongside the crowd's. Where FanVerdicts has weighed in so far: Contract Value Index F, Performance C-, Sentiment F, Fan Verdict F.
Each GM grade is rolled up from the underlying transactions attributed to that GM's tenure. When a GM signs a player, that signing's Contract Value Index grade flows into the GM's portfolio score; the same player's subsequent performance and sentiment grades flow into the GM's respective summaries. Phased attribution applies for new GMs: the first three years weight the prior GM's legacy deals at 100%/66%/33%, ramping the new GM's ownership of roster outcomes.
For broader context, the NFL hub has team rankings, GM report cards, and the transactions feed. The NFL GM rankings page ranks every front office side-by-side on the same four dimensions.
