Minnesota Vikings followers rejoice throughout the second half in opposition to the New York Giants on Sept. 8, 2024, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, as Minnesota managed the sport on the street. Obligatory Credit score: John Jones-Imagn Pictures.
The Minnesota Vikings are in the course of an intensive seek for a brand new normal supervisor — or maybe the promotion of interim boss Rob Brzezinski — and one candidate has withdrawn his title from consideration: Chad Alexander.
Minnesota’s entrance workplace hunt retains narrowing, and one notable Chargers govt has stepped apart.
The assistant boss for the Los Angeles Chargers is not considering pairing with Kevin O’Connell and associates.
The Candidate Checklist Shrinks Earlier than Minnesota’s Last Name
The sphere dwindles by one.
Los Angeles Chargers normal supervisor Joe Hortiz speaks with assistant normal supervisor Chad Alexander throughout a press convention on Apr. 16, 2026, at The Bolt in El Segundo, California. The Chargers’ entrance workplace management addressed organizational priorities and roster-building plans because the franchise continued shaping its imaginative and prescient for the upcoming NFL season. Obligatory Credit score: Kirby Lee-Imagn Pictures
Alexander Bows Out
SI.com‘s Albert Breer tweeted Friday, “Chargers assistant GM Chad Alexander respectfully declined the Vikings’ GM interview request, and withdrew his name from the search, per sources. Alexander’s comfortable in LA, and wanted to see the building of the 2026 team through.”
Not a lot extra context was supplied by different NFL insiders, leaving some to wonder if Alexander declined as a result of he thought the Rooney Rule was the one draw for his candidacy, although that concept is speculative.
Alexander’s Resume
Alexander rose by way of the Ravens group. Per longevity, consider him as Baltimore’s model of Brzezinski.
Right here’s his resume within the NFL:
— Baltimore Ravens (1999–2022)Professional {ersonal Assistant
— Baltimore Ravens (2003–2008)Scout
— Baltimore Ravens (2009–2018)Assistant Director of Participant Personnel
— New York Jets (2019–2023)Director of Participant Personnel
— Los Angeles Chargers (2024–current)Assistant Basic Supervisor
An AFC man by way of and thru, Alexander joined the Chargers on the daybreak of the Harbaugh period and evidently enjoys it there. He received’t be the Vikings’ subsequent boss.
BoltBeat‘s Alexander Insdorf on Alexander’s determination to remain in Los Angeles: “There are compensatory draft pick implications for the Chargers, but they’re perhaps not as drastic as you might think. If Alexander were to get a GM job next offseason, Los Angeles would still get the same 2027 and 2028 third-round draft picks they would’ve gotten for the Vikings hire.”
“One would think that he’ll be a hot commodity after all of the interview requests and interviews in recent offseasons. Ultimately, it probably didn’t make much sense for Alexander to think about the opportunity at this stage of the offseason. The timeline of Minnesota’s hiring will likely make it more difficult for them than it would’ve been in January.”
Los Angeles Chargers assistant normal supervisor Chad Alexander speaks throughout a press convention on Apr. 17, 2025, at The Bolt in El Segundo, California. Alexander continued constructing his profile as one of many NFL’s revered front-office evaluators whereas discussing roster building, scouting philosophies, and offseason planning alongside members of the Chargers’ management group. Obligatory Credit score: Kirby Lee-Imagn Pictures
The Chargers completed 11-6 final yr and misplaced in Spherical 1 of the postseason to the New England Patriots.
Insforf added, “You’d have to wonder about the power structure in place for the Vikings too. Does a potential Vikings GM candidate get final say over Kevin O’Connell? Is it a limitation in and of itself that a GM is getting hired without being able to pick his own head coach? Those will be some of the questions for Minnesota to figure out with remaining candidates.”
The Remaining Contenders
With Alexander subtracted from the candidate allotment, the checklist appears to be like like this:
Rob Brzezinski (Vikings Interim GM)
Ray Agnew (Lions Assistant GM)
Reed Burckhardt (Broncos Assistant GM)
RJ Gillen (49ers Assistant GM)
Terrance Grey (Payments Assistant GM)
John McKay (Rams Assistant GM)
Kyle Smith (Dolphins Assistant GM)
Nolan Teasley (Seahawks Assistant GM)
Dave Ziegler (Titans Assistant GM)
Basic supervisor searches are notoriously tough to foretell, so apart from Brzezinski in all probability remaining with a major position within the Vikings’ hierarchy, this factor is actually up within the air.
Resolution Day Looms
Minnesota’s search has one key perk: as a result of it waited till late January to fireside Kwesi Adofo-Mensah after which launched into a full offseason with Brzezinski and O’Connell in cost, a way of urgency will not be required. That’s — no different NFL staff is hiring a normal supervisor proper now. Mark and Zygi Wilf, the staff’s two important house owners, could be affected person.
Minnesota Vikings proprietor Zygi Wilf stands close to the sector earlier than an NFC Wild Card matchup in opposition to the Los Angeles Rams on Jan. 13, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Wilf watched pregame preparations as Minnesota entered one other postseason underneath head coach Kevin O’Connell, pursuing a deeper playoff run within the NFC bracket. Obligatory Credit score: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Pictures
Nonetheless, Vikings summer season operations warmth up in June, and standard logic suggests the franchise will desire a new boss in his seat round that point. Due to this fact, it’s cheap to anticipate the GM announcement inside the subsequent two to a few weeks.
O’Connell stated final week about his position within the search: “I’m excited for potentially forming that relationship, going through the process and have much of a part as ownership and Andrew want me to be a part of it, I will and I’m very much looking forward to a great outcome, which I know we’re going to get.”
Nevertheless it received’t be Alexander. He’s out.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … Extra about Dustin Baker
