The Indianapolis Colts will interview six candidates for their vacant general manager position, including five individuals who met with the 49ers.
Minnesota assistant general manager George Paton, who is a finalist for the 49ers’ job, has an interview scheduled with the Colts, the team announced on Wednesday. Colts owner Jim Irsay announced the firing of general manager Ryan Grigson on Saturday.
Irsay said he was committed to retaining head coach Chuck Pagano for the 2017 season.
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Paton and Arizona vice president of player personnel Terry McDonough are scheduled for second interviews with the 49ers on Saturday in Atlanta. Presumptive coach Kyle Shanahan, the Falcons’ offensive coordinator, is expected to take part in the general manager interviews to help select the 49ers’ next general manager.
The 49ers are not allowed to officially hire Shanahan until after Super Bowl 51 on Feb. 5, but the general manager position could be filled before then.
The Colts' list also includes Kansas City director of football operations Chris Ballard, who declined to interview with the 49ers. League sources tell CSNBayArea.com that Ballard expressed a desire to remain with the Chiefs.
The Colts will also interview in-house candidate Jimmy Raye III, the team’s interim general manager and vice president of player personnel. Raye interviewed with the 49ers on Jan. 8 but did not make it to a second round of interviews.
San Francisco 49ers
Green Bay director of football operations Eliot Wolf and Seattle co-diretors of player personnel Trent Kirchner and Scott Fitterer are also among the six candidates the Colts will interview.
Wolf removed his name from contention for the 49ers’ job last week when it became apparent that he wasn’t going to be hired, reported Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The Packers intend to give Wolf a new title and his third promotion and five years, according to the report.
Kirchner pulled out of the running, along with coach candidate Tom Cable, when both men became convinced the 49ers were targeting Shanahan and a GM candidate of his choosing, according to sources. The 49ers informed Fitterer he did not make the cut past the first round of interviews.