Trent

Kirchner

Kirchner spent the last 16 seasons working for the Seahawks alongside the Vikings’ recently hired GM Nolan Teasley. Kirchner spent the last seven seasons as the Seahawks’ vice president of player personnel and “is widely regarded as one of the NFL’s top talent evaluators.” The Vikings also hired Andrew Healy as an assistant general manager. He previously served as the Browns’ vice president of research and strategy and will now serve as the team’s secondary football executive.

Something of an annual candidate for top jobs elsewhere, Kirchner has never flown the Seahawks’ front office coop. It is unclear how serious the Texans’ interest might be. Kirchner is GM John Schneider’s right-hand personnel man. Schneider’s star has dimmed a bit in recent years.

The news was first reported a week ago, but there hadn’t been any updates. Kirchner and Scott Fitterer are the Seahawks’ co-directors of player personnel. It sounds like they might be a package deal.

Kirchner’s personnel partner Scott Fitterer is apparently still under consideration. Often, when a candidate publicly withdraws, it means the team has zeroed in on someone else, but that can’t be assumed to be the case with the dysfunctional 49ers.

The interview will happen next week. The 49ers are also expected to talk with the other co-director of player personnel Scott Fitterer as well as Seahawks assistant head coach/OL coach Tom Cable. Kirchner has interviewed with the Lions and Jets in the past.

Reporter Joe Person considers director of player personnel Mark Koncz the top in-house candidate. ESPN’s Adam Schefter also considers senior executive scout Don Gregory an in-house name to watch. There are only 32 general manager jobs — so candidates will listen — but they will also have questions about the power structure after what seemed like an impetuous firing of Dave Gettleman.

Kirchner interviewed for the Jets’ GM vacancy last offseason, but lost out to Mike Maccagnan. Kirchner is the Seahawks’ co-director of player personnel. The Lions are in the market for a replacement for Martin Mayhew.

We already knew Seahawks director of pro personnel Trent Kirchner and Ravens assistant GM Eric DeCosta, but beat writer Dom Cosentino reports there are three more names on the list. Texans college scouting director Mike Maccagnan, Vikings assistant GM George Paton and Eagles pro personnel director Rick Mueller are apparently all being considered to replace John Idzik. The Jets would be wise to hire a general manager before making a move at coach.

Jets fans will scream and moan that “we got John Idzik from the Seahawks!” and question why they’d go back to Seattle for their next GM. But unlike Idzik, who was a mere “salary-cap guy” in Seattle, Kirchner is GM John Schneider’s right-hand man as a personnel guy. He’s viewed as an up-and-comer in personnel.