Gutekunst returning with new deal

GREEN BAY - The Green Bay Packers won't be losing one of their personnel executives to San Francisco to be general manager.

A day after director of football operations Eliot Wolf signed a new deal with the Packers, director of player personnel Brian Gutekunst did, too.

ESPN.com reported Friday that Gutekunst would be returning to the Packers. A source confirmed the deal with the Journal Sentinel.

Both men interviewed for the 49ers general manager position. Gutekunst appeared to be higher on their radar, but a number of personnel executives have pulled their name out of the running because they have concerns about ownership and the front office structure.

There have been no reports of the third key member of the scouting department, senior personnel executive Alonzo Highsmith, receiving a new deal. Highsmith was not a candidate for a GM's job this year, but he has had interest from other teams in the past. The Packers have denied teams permission to interview him.

The return of all three men doesn't shed any light on the future of the Packers' front office.

General manager Ted Thompson is believed to have one more year on his contract. Sources have said that if the Packers win the Super Bowl he would retire, but Thompson, who turned 64 on Tuesday, has never said that and has not sought to groom a replacement.