Brian Gutekunst
GM — Green Bay Packers
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About Brian Gutekunst
Brian Gutekunst is the general manager of the Green Bay Packers and the man responsible for the most polarizing roster decisions in the NFC North. He drafted Jordan Love while Aaron Rodgers was still an MVP-caliber quarterback, which made him either a genius or a madman depending on which year you asked. Then he traded for Micah Parsons, which made him a folk hero for approximately one week before people started arguing about what he gave up. Gutekunst operates in a constant state of being second-guessed by a fanbase that owns the team.
That last part matters. The Packers are publicly owned, which means every shareholder with a framed stock certificate feels entitled to an opinion on the draft board. Gutekunst makes a move, and within the hour there are detailed cap analyses posted by accountants in Oshkosh explaining why he's wrong. The "Gutey" nickname carries both affection and menace. Good draft? Gutey the genius. Bad free agent signing? Gutey has lost the plot. He exists in a state of perpetual evaluation that no other GM in football can match, because no other GM's bosses number in the hundreds of thousands.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Brian Gutekunst called both a genius and a madman?
Because his biggest moves always look insane before they look smart. Drafting a quarterback in the first round when your current quarterback just won MVP? Insane. Trading a haul for Micah Parsons when the defense already had holes? Questionable. But the Love pick worked out after Rodgers left, and the Parsons trade changed the defense overnight. Gutekunst's record suggests he's usually right, but the process of getting there involves giving the entire state of Wisconsin a heart attack.
Last updated: April 2026