Panthers Request Permission To Interview Three Including Patriots Exec. Nick Caserio For GM Job

Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that the Panthers requested permission to interview Patriots’ director of player personnel Nick Caserio for their general manager job.

Ian Rapoport adds that the Panthers are also looking to interview Bills assistant GM Joe Schoen and Browns VP of Football Operations Kwesi Adofo-Mensah.

Caserio has served as the Patriots’ de facto general manager and had been a popular name linked to GM vacancies for several years now.

Earlier in the day, Jason La Canfora reported that the Panthers had interest in Caserio. 

La Canfora added the Panthers plan to cast a wide net in their search for a new GM. Their interview list includes Colts assistant GM Ed Dodds, Vikings assistant GM George Paton and Chiefs director of player personnel Mike Borgonzi. 

Ian Rapoport, Tom Pelissero and Mike Garafolo add that in addition to setting up an interview with former Giants GM Jerry Reese, the Panthers also plan to look at Saints assistant GM Jeff Ireland, 49ers VP of player personnel Adam Peters, Bills assistant GM Joe Schoen and Seahawks VP of football ops Scott Fitterer. 

Caserio, 43, got into coaching back in 1999 as a graduate assistant at Saginaw Valley State. He spent three years coaching in college before the Patriots hired him as an offensive coaching assistant in 2002.

Caserio later took a personnel assistant job and worked his way up to director of player personnel in 2008 and has remained in the position ever since.

Caserio’s contract was set to expire this spring before his two-year extension. The deal includes language to prevent the Patriots from blocking him from another job opportunity.