Josh

Williams

This is Williams’ second interview with the Falcons, though it is his first for this specific role. He previously interviewed for the Falcons’ recently-created president of football position, now occupied by Matt Ryan. Williams is believed to be a “front runner” for the general manager role, as is Bears assistant general manager Ian Cunningham, who interviewed for the same role earlier today.

Both also interviewed for Atlanta’s hand-created-for-Matt-Ryan “president of football” position, and the Falcons appear to have used those interviews as a starting point for their general manager position. Neither has come back for a second interview yet, with Atlanta only just announcing some new interviews for GM candidates today after spending the early offseason on the head coach and (ugh) “president of football” positions. Cunningham has ties to Ryan through his boss, Bears GM Ryan Poles, who played with Ryan at Boston College.

Williams was reported as a finalist for the Dolphins’ general manager position, alongside Jon-Eric Sullivan, who ultimately got the job. Ironically, the Falcons’ president of football operations role could be a step up. Whoever assumes the Falcons’ newly created position will lead the interview process for the head coach and general manager searches. Both figures will then report to the president of football operations, who reports directly to team owner Arthur Blank.

The Dolphins will interview Chargers assistant general manager Chad Alexander, Packers vice president of player personnel Jon-Eric Sullivan, 49ers director of scouting and football operations Josh Williams and their own interim general managers Champ Kelly for their open general manager position. The Dolphins are moving quickly towards finding their new general manager, beginning the second phase of the interview process by bringing in these four candidates in-person. Mike McDaniel is still the head coach but it is possible the general manager hire changes things with John Harbaugh also on the coaching market.

“President of football” being a very silly term aside, reporters have made it clear that the Falcons want to check the box on this job before they get to their GM and head-coaching vacancies. Williams has already been requested for the Dolphins GM position and was a finalist for the Jaguars GM position last offseason.

They also requested permission to talk to Packers vice president of player personnel Jon-Eric Sullivan, 49ers director of scouting and football operations Josh Williams, 49ers vice president of player personnel Tariq Ahmad, and Rams assistant GM John McKay. The fact that there are two 49ers-linked candidates on that list is probably good news for Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel on Black Monday. Halaby had interview requests from the Panthers and Jets the past two seasons.

The Dolphins are apparently restructuring certain roles in their front office and are expected to “have three guys atop the football side—the head coach, the new GM and [senior vice president of football and business administration Brandon] Shore.” Shore is reportedly being “transitioned into an elevated role.” Breer believes the Dolphins are searching for a general manager “with a strong player-evaluation background” to complete the trio. Sullivan fits the bill, having come up “on the scouting side under the late Ted Thompson.” Breer also names the 49ers’ Williams as an option, if team owner Stephen Ross chooses to keep head coach Mike McDaniel, due to Williams and McDaniel’s “standing relationship.”

Williams was previously reported to be one of five finalists for the vacancy left by Trent Baalke. He is the first of the five to complete an in-person interview, meaning the Jags won’t be making a decision for at least a few days, if not longer. Williams worked his way up the ranks in San Francisco as a scout before being promoted to his current role last offseason. He has been with the 49ers for nearly 14 years in total.

According to Walters, those candidates include Josh Williams and James Gladstone, who are directors of scouting for the 49ers and Rams, respectively. Bears assistant general manager Ian Cunningham is also a finalist, as is Packers’ VP of player personnel, Jon-Eric Sullivan. Perhaps the most interesting finalist on this list is Jaguars interim GM Ethan Waugh, who has familiarity with those in the building but also worked closely with former GM Trent Baalke, whose firing appeared to have a direct impact on head coach Liam Coen’s willingness to join the team. Walters reports the Jaguars are expected to make a decision on GM by the end of the week.

The Jaguars are trying to lock down their general manager position after hiring Liam Coen as head coach. After Buccaneers assistant GM Mike Greenberg withdrew from consideration, Jacksonville has now requested to interview Williams, who has been with the 49ers for 14 years in various scouting roles. He just finished his first season as director of scouting and football operations for the 49ers and is now in consideration to step into a general manager position for the Jaguars.