Minnesota Vikings proprietor Zygi Wilf surveys the sphere earlier than kickoff, taking in pregame preparations at U.S. Financial institution Stadium on Dec. 8, 2024, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The second captures Wilf observing group exercise and stadium environment forward of a matchup towards Atlanta as ultimate warmups unfold. Obligatory Credit score: Matt Krohn-Imagn Photos.
The Minnesota Vikings fired Kwesi Adofo-Mensah on Friday, January thirtieth, after 4 years’ value of poor drafts and one offseason of atrocious quarterback decision-making. Quick ahead to late April, and the membership has begun its seek for a substitute. The caveat? It’s a closed search; the group is not going to announce any normal supervisor candidates.
The Wilfs desire a full search, albeit secretive, but the strongest candidate may already be operating the constructing.
It’s an odd twist for a group that’s normally fairly rattling clear.
Rob Brzezinski Has the Inside Monitor After the Draft
Curious in regards to the Vikings’ GM wishlist? You’re out of luck.
Rob Brzezinski sits down with Vikings.com’s Gabe Henderson to debate front-office philosophy and team-building method, providing perception into Minnesota’s management construction throughout a recorded section, Feb. 17, 2022, because the group transitioned into the Kevin O’Connell period with a renewed emphasis on collaboration and long-term planning. Obligatory Credit score: YouTube.
The Search Begins — However Don’t Ask Who’s Concerned
Mark and Zygi Wilf, the group’s longtime homeowners, launched the next assertion on Wednesday:
With the conclusion of the 2026 NFL Draft, our seek for the subsequent normal supervisor of the Minnesota Vikings is underway. This will probably be an intensive and deliberate course of led by possession, with assist from a small inside advisory committee of senior leaders.
We have now additionally engaged revered agency TurnkeyZRG to help in conducting a wide-ranging search that features skilled soccer executives, rising candidates and people with various skilled backgrounds. Our focus is to determine a decisive chief with a transparent imaginative and prescient for group constructing, robust communication abilities and the flexibility to construct alignment throughout a corporation.
Out of respect for all concerned, we don’t intend to publicly announce candidates and can present additional remark when the search is full.
This principally signifies that sooner or later quickly, the Vikings will declare a brand new normal supervisor, and in contrast to the 2022 course of, no contenders will probably be made public.
Brzezinski because the Frontrunner
Whereas the method of scouting a brand new normal supervisor will probably be intensive, the interim candidate, Brzezinski, simply needs to be the frontrunner. He formally expressed curiosity within the huge job this week, and he has run the present for 3 months. There have been no main blunders, and Brzezinski’s temporary time within the saddle has been highlighted by the signing of Kyler Murray and onboarding a largely spectacular draft class, no less than by a few-days-after requirements.
Brzezinski has labored for the Vikings for 27 years. He is aware of the whole lot in regards to the enterprise and is keen to work inside the group’s present construction, along with collaborating with Kevin O’Connell.
Minnesota might finally rent an outsider, however Brzezinski ought to be thought of the favourite.
The Theoretical Exterior Candidates
In fact, the entire premise of this text is that followers gained’t know the candidates’ identities, however that hasn’t stopped the rumor mill from speculating on Adofo-Mensah’s substitute since January thirtieth.
Zygi Wilf converses with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell alongside the sideline throughout a playoff environment, sharing a second through the second quarter of a wild card matchup, Jan. 15, 2023, at U.S. Financial institution Stadium in Minneapolis because the Vikings hosted postseason motion in entrance of a packed dwelling crowd. Obligatory Credit score: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports activities.
Together with Brzezinski, the next listing will be thought of an affordable group of doable candidates:
Alec Halaby (PHI)
Andy Weidl (PIT)
Ed Dodds (IND)
George Paton (DEN
John McKay (LAR)
Matt Berry (SEA)
Ryan Cowden (NE)
Trent Kirchner (SEA)
And that batch will simply need to do for curious minds as a result of outdoors of leaks, the Wilfs don’t need the method to be overly public.
The Athletic‘s Alec Lewis famous on Dodds this week, “Dodds is one of the most deserving options if the Vikings want to go the experienced scout route. For years, his name has surfaced in these GM conversations. He interviewed with the Detroit Lions in 2021, then the Los Angeles Chargers in 2024.”
“Last year, the Tennessee Titans considered him for the role that ultimately went to Mike Borgonzi. The Texas native started with the Raiders. His career took off with the Seattle Seahawks, where he focused on college scouting. Tape and relationships guide his opinions. Other longtime NFL scouts believe he deserves an opportunity.”
GM Can’t Choose the Head Coach
There’s one awkward side of this search and maybe one more reason why Brzezinski leads the pack: the brand new normal supervisor gained’t be hiring a head coach. That half is completed. It’s O’Connell.
Nearly each new normal supervisor has a primary order of enterprise: hiring a head coach — the man who will decide if his soccer group is any good and produce his free-agent and draft selections to fruition. In Minnesota, no less than for one more season, O’Connell is the pinnacle coach, and he’s not going wherever.
Kevin O’Connell watches from the sideline through the second half of a postseason contest, targeted on late-game execution as Minnesota battled the Rams, Jan. 13, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale with the season on the road in an NFC wild card showdown. Obligatory Credit score: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Photos.
NBC Sports activities‘ Mike Florio on the method: “The overriding question is whether coach Kevin O’Connell will emerge from the process with greater influence over the roster. That will make the specific terms of the G.M. job critical — and it will potentially impact Minnesota’s ability to interview and hire candidates under contract with other teams.”
So, whether or not it’s Brzezinski or a newcomer, O’Connell stays a fixture of the Vikings and possibly the extra necessary of all of them. The brand new normal supervisor can’t waltz into his new workplace and fireplace O’Connell. That’s off-limits.
