Monti Ossenfort - interviewed Sunday
John Spytek - interviewed Monday
Kwesi Adofo-Mensah - interviewed Monday
Catherine Raiche - interviewed Monday
Brandon Brown - interviewed Tuesday
Ryan Poles - interviewed Tuesday
For what it’s worth, according to an NFL source, Ryan Poles had an “impressive” interview with the Vikings. He also appears to be impressing the New York Giants as he had a second interview yesterday for their open GM job.
Glenn Cook and Eliot Wolf are scheduled to interview for the Vikings general manager job today.
While the Vikings are expected to hire a GM first, four head coach interviews have already taken place. More will take place before the general manager is hired. As confusing as this may seem, it’s a wise move to make first contact with prospective coaches. No head coach vacancy across the league has been filled. No head coach vacancy feels all that close to being filled. Despite that, the Vikings couldn’t sit idle on the coaching front while working toward hiring a general manager.
The Vikings initially requested interviews with seven head coach candidates.
Todd Bowles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers Defensive Coordinator
Nathaniel Hackett, Green Bay Packers Offensive Coordinator
Dan Quinn, Dallas Cowboys Defensive Coordinator
DeMeco Ryans, San Francisco 49ers Defensive Coordinator
Kellen Moore, Dallas Cowboys Offensive Coordinator
Jonathan Gannon, Philadelphia Eagles Defensive Coordinator
Kevin O’Connell, Los Angeles Rams Offensive Coordinator
Personally, that didn’t feel like a complete candidate short list as Byron Leftwich and Brian Daboll weren’t on it. It was proven to an incomplete candidate short list on Tuesday when the Vikings requested an interview with an eighth candidate.
Raheem Morris, Los Angeles Rams Defensive Coordinator
For some reason, I hadn’t initially considered Raheem Morris. After a few hours of pondering and reading, Morris has emerged as one of my favorite candidates. He may even be my favorite.
Through Wednesday, the Vikings have interviewed four head coach candidates.
Nathaniel Hackett - Sunday
Dan Quinn - Wednesday
DeMeco Ryans - Wednesday
Kellen Moore-Wednesday
Jonathan Gannon is scheduled to interview today. Raheem Morris, Todd Bowles and Kevin O’Connell are scheduled to interview tomorrow. Busy day. At that point, all of the coaches on the Vikings current candidate list will have been interviewed at least once. Hopefully, a general manager will be in place for the next round of interviews.
Of the eight current head coach candidates, I feel most drawn to Raheem Morris and DeMeco Ryans. Morris’ experience probably puts him at 1a to Ryans’ 1b. Some might grumble about another defensive head coach. Offense, defense, special teams. It shouldn’t matter. It might be best if the head coach isn’t the one calling the offensive or defensive plays on game day. The Vikings need to find the best head coach and leader. They need to hire the person that creates the best environment in the building, on the field, everywhere. If the Vikings look their way, Byron Leftwich and Brain Baboll might join Morris and Ryans at the top of my personal wish list. Nathaniel Hackett is currently running a notch below my favorite favorites.
It’s wild that it’s only been ten days since Rick Spielman and Mike Zimmer were fired. Time seems to stand still when your team is looking for a general manager and head coach.
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