Leaders hire Adam Peters as 49ers GM: Sources

Washington leaders have agreed to terms with San Francisco 49ers front office executive Adam Peters to become the team's new general manager, team sources confirmed Friday.

Peters entered this recruiting cycle widely viewed as a top target for GMs across the league and an obvious target for Washington managing partner Josh Harris. The hiring of the 49ers' assistant general manager, who is considered a strong personnel evaluator, is the latest example of the changing perception of the organization following this summer's sale from Dan Snyder to the Harris Group.

The two finalists, Peters and Bears assistant general manager Ian Cunningham, participated in second interviews via video conference calls with Harris and other members of the Washington search committee, including local billionaire Mitchell Ralls, former NBA legend Magic Johnson and former C.E.O. For Golden State Warriors POP. Myers.

Peters was the chief talent evaluator in the 49ers hierarchy. He arrived in San Francisco in 2017 as vice president of player personnel after serving as a scout with the New England Patriots under Bill Belichick and Denver during the Peyton Manning Super Bowl era.

The 49ers have reached the NFC Championship three times since 2019, advanced to this season's Super Bowl appearance, and are the NFC's top seeds heading into the 2023 season. Along the way, the Northern California native has earned a reputation as one of the league's best residents.

“I think if you're a team looking this year, frankly, you'd be foolish to look anywhere else,” one NFL agent said as part of the The athleteAnnual agent survey. “I think he's the best in the business.”

The leaders have extensive working knowledge and relationship with the 49ers front office. Harris has a working relationship with 49ers president Al Guido through Elevate Sports Ventures, the technology and data analytics company founded in 2018 by the parent company of Harris' ownership group, Harris Blitzer Sports and Entertainment, and by the 49ers. Guido is Chairman and CEO of Elevate. Additionally, Myers has a long-standing friendship with 49ers president John Lynch and also knows Peters from his days as a sports executive in the Bay Area. GM Martin Mayhew worked with Peters in San Francisco before joining Washington in 2021.

Agents also voted Peters among the league's talent evaluators and front office leaders they trust most, a rarity for non-general managers. He tied for first place in the “Future GM to Watch” category.

Peters is now the committee's chief football voice as the franchise searches for a new head coach following the firing of Ron Rivera on Monday. Based on the current setup, Peters becomes the first full-time Washington general manager at the helm of the front office since Charlie Casserly in 1999.

Washington has requested interviews with seven coaching candidates, including Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn. They will be part of the NFL's inaugural playoff run alongside three fellow well-known candidates: the Texans' OC Bobby Slowik, the Rams' DC Raheem Morris, and the Lions' DC Aaron Glenn. Washington held a virtual interview with Ravens assistant coach/DL coach Anthony Weaver on Thursday, league sources said.

Baltimore candidate Mike McDonald told local reporters that he met virtually with multiple teams on Thursday. Slowick, 36, was part of the 49ers offensive staff from 2017-22 in a variety of roles, including passing game coordinator in his final season before helping Houston's rookie mentor phenom, QB CJ Stroud. Slowick was a defensive assistant at Washington from 2011 to 2013. Morris overlapped with Slowick in Washington after three years as head coach of the Tampa Buccaneers.

The leaders' front office executives will be evaluated in the coming days, according to a team source.

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(Photo: Aaron Gash/AP)