Panthers expected to hire Seahawks exec Scott Fitterer as general manager

After the most expansive candidate search in franchise history, the Carolina Panthers are expected to hire Seahawks VP of player personnel Scott Fitterer to fill their GM vacancy, per NFL Media/NFL.com.

Fitterer, 47, has been with the Seahawks since 2001–Mike Holmgren was the head coach/general manager at the time, as Fitterer jumped into a front office structure rife with emerging stars, including Ted Thompson (VP of football ops) and John Schnieder (Director of player personnel).

A two-sport star in high school, Fitterer played baseball (pitcher) and football (quarterback) at UCLA, and later LSU. Shoulder problems eventually derailed his baseball career with the Toronto Blue Jays.

As an area scout, Fittrer worked under then college scouting director Scot Mccloughan, who, ironically enough, also played for the Blue Jays.

Per the Seahawks 2020 Media Guide, Fitterer, who was the team’s college scouting director from 2011-14, was still heavily involved in Seattle’s college scouting efforts:

In his current role, Fitterer works collaboratively with Trent Kirchner in directing both the college scouting and pro personnel departments to manage and strengthen all aspects of the Seahawks roster.

As the director of college scouting he coordinated the Seahawks’ entire scouting operation and compiled all of the college scouting information required to set the draft board.

He is responsible for the evaluation of all draft eligible players nationally, oversight of the Seahawks college scouting staff and works closely with GM John Schneider and the Seahawks coaching staff regarding the NFL Draft and college free agency.

Before joining Seattle, Fitterer was a scout for the New York Giants from 1998-2000, where he worked in the same building as former Panthers head coach John Fox.

The Panthers interviewed 15 candidates for their GM vacancy, with Fitterer jumping into the mix as a late addition. Fitterer will oversee a front office currently led by a pair of recent hires: director of player personnel Pat Stewart and director of player negotiations/cap manager Samir Suleiman.