Indianapolis Colts common supervisor Ryan Grigson stands on the sector earlier than an AFC Wild Card sport towards the Cincinnati Bengals at Lucas Oil Stadium. Grigson appeared on January 4, 2015, as Indianapolis ready for postseason motion throughout one in every of his most profitable seasons main the franchise’s entrance workplace operations. Obligatory Credit score: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports activities.
From the second the Minnesota Vikings terminated common supervisor Kwesi Adofo-Mensah in January, many followers have questioned about Ryan Grigson’s destiny, the person who stuffed the function of senior vice chairman of participant personnel for just a few years and assistant common supervisor in 2025. As of Wednesday, the decision is in — Minnesota is not going to retain Grigson, and actually, he’s now a member of the Cleveland Browns’ entrance workplace.
Grigson’s run in Minnesota lasted about so long as Adofo-Mensah’s.
Vikings’ Entrance Workplace Shakeup Now Has Its Lacking Verdict
Indianapolis Colts common supervisor Ryan Grigson walks alongside the sideline earlier than a highway sport towards the Oakland Raiders at Oakland-Alameda Coliseum. Grigson served because the Colts’ prime govt from 2012 by 2016 and oversaw the franchise through the early years of quarterback Andrew Luck’s profession. Dec. 24, 2016. Obligatory Credit score: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports activities.
Grigson Out in MIN, Latches Again on to CLE
The Athletic‘s Devon Henderson and Michael Silver wrote Wednesday, “Ryan Grigson is leaving the Minnesota Vikings to become a senior football adviser to Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry, a league source confirmed to The Athletic on Wednesday.”
“Grigson, an assistant general manager under since-departed Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah last season, was given an opportunity to remain with Minnesota in a different role. Instead, he opted to return to Cleveland, the source said on the condition of anonymity because they hadn’t been authorized to speak publicly on the matter.”
Usually, when issues would go dangerous in Minnesota, some would level the finger at Grigson — generally with none actual proof.
Henderson and Silver added, “Grigson worked as senior football adviser for the Browns from 2020 to 2021 and senior personnel executive in 2017. Most notably, Grigson was the GM of the Indianapolis Colts from 2012 to 2016 — an era of transition in which the franchise cut ties with Peyton Manning and drafted quarterback Andrew Luck in 2012 with the No. 1 pick.”
“For part of Grigson’s time with the Colts, Berry reported to him.”
The Boogeyman for Some Followers
Right here’s just a little secret: the majority of Vikings followers don’t like Grigson. Anytime one thing went improper within the final 4 years, if Adofo-Mensah wasn’t ripe for blame, followers would use Grigson because the scapegoat. In actual fact, he felt like a boogeyman, although of us might by no means precisely pinpoint his sins.
For instance, if a Vikings draft class bent dangerous — that occurred so much beneath Adofo-Mensah — of us would grumble about Grigson, suggesting his affect contributed to the debacle.
So, when reporting emerged on Wednesday that he was not part of the Vikings’ entrance workplace, most social media customers counseled the departure.
Grigson’s Monitor Report
Grigson’s profession presents a combined file. In Indianapolis, he achieved success, notably by drafting Andrew Luck and contributing to a few 11-win groups, incomes him Govt of the Yr honors. Nonetheless, his tenure additionally included missteps such because the Trent Richardson commerce, a struggling offensive line, and questionable draft picks like Bjoern Werner and Phillip Dorsett, in the end resulting in a depleted roster round Luck.
Regardless of these shortcomings, Grigson has maintained a presence in NFL entrance places of work, holding personnel roles with the Seahawks, Browns, and Vikings after leaving the Colts. Becoming a member of the Vikings in 2022, he shortly superior to the senior vice chairman of participant personnel after which assistant common supervisor roles. In these capacities, he was deeply concerned in all features of the Adofo-Mensah period, together with free company, draft preparation, and roster analysis.
Cleveland Browns Riddell SpeedFlex helmets sit on the sideline earlier than a sport towards the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium. The gear show captured the Browns’ presence throughout a highway matchup as gamers and coaches ready for kickoff. Dec. 3, 2023. Obligatory Credit score: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports activities.
Grigson is undeniably a soccer lifer, however his monitor file demonstrates he’s not a flawless personnel strategist, as evidenced by Minnesota’s current draft efficiency.
SI.com‘s Will Ragatz famous Wednesday, “Because of his reputation from his time with the Colts and the general struggles of the Adofo-Mensah regime in the draft, it’s fair to say Grigson was not a popular figure among Vikings fans, even if fans have no insight into the specific roles and contributions of specific non-GM front office executives.”
“Minnesota’s new AGMs under Teasley are Andrew Healy and Trent Kirchner. Healy, who will be the No. 2 football executive for the Vikings, comes from an analytics background with Cleveland. Kirchner is a more traditional scouting and personnel executive who is following Teasley from Seattle.”
Teasley Means Enterprise
The general takeaway? It’s a brand new period in Minnesota. Adofo-Mensah is clearly gone, and if Grigson was actually his essential lieutenant, they ended up leaving as a bundle deal — it simply took 5 months for Grigson to observe swimsuit.
Teasley has already used the previous few weeks to usher in “his guys,” a traditional habits for brand spanking new leaders in energy.
Seahawks assistant common supervisor Nolan Teasley speaks throughout a behind-the-scenes function exploring Seattle’s draft preparation course of. The video showcased scouting conferences, prospect evaluations, and personnel discussions because the entrance workplace assembled its draft board following the NFL Mix. Spring 2026. Obligatory Credit score: YouTube.
It’s additionally value noting that Adofo-Mensah and Grigson orchestrated the J.J. McCarthy draft decide in 2024. If Minnesota has an off-ramp deliberate for McCarthy now that Kyler Murray is in tow, all it has to do is level to its actions — eliminating Adofo-Mensah and Grigson — as an emblem that they have been accountable.
Vikings coaching camp will get underway in a few month.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … Extra about Dustin Baker
