Titans to hire Packers’ Chad Brinker as assistant GM

The Titans are arranging their pieces this week. A day after promoting Tim Kelly to offensive coordinator, the team will soon have its top front office lieutenant in place.

Tennessee will hire Green Bay executive Chad Brinker as its assistant general manager, Albert Breer of SI.com tweets. The veteran staffer has been with the Packers for the past 13 years, serving in scouting and executive roles with the NFC North franchise.

Brinker will join new GM Ran Carthon with the Titans, who continue to make changes in the wake of Jon Robinson‘s late-season firing. Although Brinker has not been a GM candidate, the Patriots attempted to interview him for a position during the 2021 offseason. The Packers blocked the move at that point, but the Titans' job comes with a significant responsibility bump.

A Ted Thompson hire, Brinker joined the Packers as a scouting assistant in 2010. He served as a pro scout from 2012-17 and moved up the ladder by becoming the team’s assistant director of pro scouting. Brinker also served as a salary cap analyst at points for the Packers, who promoted him again in 2021. Brinker’s scouting background aside, Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com notes he has made major contributions to the Packers’ financial side in recent years. Brinker worked with Packers director of football ops Russ Ball on this front.

Brinker and Carthon have not previously worked together, with Carthon coming over after six years with the 49ers. Brinker has only worked with the Packers, beginning his career as an intern with the team in 2009. However, both were college running backs in the early 2000s — Carthon at Florida, Brinker at Ohio. Both then became UDFAs, though Carthon’s NFL playing career lasted a tough longer than Brinker’s.

After two years as one of Brian Gutekunst‘s right-hand men and nearly 15 with the Packers, Brinker will attempt to help Carthon build a foundation with the Titans.