Vikings Have A New General Manager

The end of May is an unusual time to hire a new general manage in the NFL. This has been an unusual offseason for the Minnesota Vikings. Yesterday, it was reported that the Vikings are hiring Seattle Seahawks assistant general manager Nolan Teasley as their new general manager. The Vikings finally have a full-time GM. 

Nolan Teasley’s first year with the Seahawks was the year the team won their first Super Bowl. His last year with the team was the year the team won their second Super Bowl. It’s a nice bookend. In his 13 years with the Seahawks, he learned how to build an NFL team and he learned what it takes to win. Building a team that competes is one thing. Building a team that wins is a whole other thing. Over the past 60 years, the Vikings have come so close to winning a championship so often that it’s a shocking thing that they’ve never just lucked into one. For a team that’s long been trying to win, it’s just seems like a good deal to bring in someone that has. 

66 years. Over 66 years the Vikings have hired two general managers with a history of football scouting. Jim Finks and Rick Spielman. Nolan Teasley is the third. There are so many ways to build a top-notch team. I’ll always believe that the person best able to build that team is one that focuses more on the player than the spreadsheet. 

A younger Nolan Teasley played running back for Central Washington. His football-playing career ended there. After six years with a marketing firm, he wanted football as his life’s work. Teasley sent letters to all 32 teams looking for a football job. Only the local Seahawks answered. He took advantage of his singular opportunity and turned it into career. Now, he’s the Vikings general manager. Thank you Seahawks for answering that letter. 

Nolan Teasley comes with pro and college scouting/evaluating experience. That isn’t a common combination. His peers consider him an “innovator” and a “grinder.” Many thought his GM opportunity would’ve come earlier. I’m not so sure about that as I’ve never seen Teasley as a target for any recent GM opportunities. Whether true or not, his opportunity to build a team was coming. If for no other reason, the Vikings making a GM search in late May might actually have been a good thing. If Teasley was their guy, they probably would’ve had serious competition for him next offseason. He was once voted the best talent evaluator in the league. That’s a very subjective thing. But it is a thing. 

Minnesota Vikings franchise fixture Rob Brzezinski was one of the candidates for the GM job. As the team’s interim GM through this unusual offseason and his nearly 30 years with the Vikings, he deserved consideration for the full-time job. I hoped that Brzezinski wouldn’t get the job because he was too important to be put on the annual chopping block. An NFL GM is always on the chopping block. Since the announcement of Nolan Teasley’s hire, it’s been reported that Brzezinski will continue in his role as executive VP. Teasley’s hire is a great thing. As great, is Brzenzinski’s continued role with the team. He will always be a great and very important presence within spectacular TCO Performance Center. 

It’s been an unusual offseason for the Minnesota Vikings but it’s been a productive offseason. From the field to the front office to the salary cap, the Vikings are in much better shape now than they were in January. Kevin O’Connell won a Super Bowl as the offensive coordinator of the Los Angeles Rams. Brian Flores won Super Bowls as a coach and defensive coordinator of the New England Patriots. Nolan Teasley saw a Super Bowl win as an intern and helped build a Super Bowl winner as the assistant general manager. Those three have come together as the top decision-makers of the Vikings. Now they are tasked with finally bringing Super Bowl wins to Minnesota. 

Unsigned Draft Picks: By Team

The 2026 NFL Draft was more than a month ago. That means that the 32 teams are more than a month into the task of signing their draft picks. Each team has a different strategy in approaching this fairly routine process. Some teams try to wrap up the signings before the players show up for rookie minicamp. Other teams have a more relaxed approach. For instance, the Miami Dolphins have signed none of their 13 draft picks. Here’s where each team currently stands in the draft pick signing process. 

Unsigned Draft Picks: By Team

Minnesota Vikings 

The Vikings have signed all nine of their draft picks.

Chicago Bears

First Round

25. Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon

Second Round

57. Logan Jones, C, Iowa

Third Round

69. Sam Roush, TE, Stanford

Detroit Lions

The Lions have signed all seven of their draft picks.

Green Bay Packers

The Packers have signed all six of their draft picks.

Dallas Cowboys

First Round

23. Malachi Lawrence, Edge, Central Florida

New York Giants

The Giants have signed all seven of their draft picks. 

Philadelphia Eagles

Third Round

68. Markel Bell, OT, Miami

Washington Commanders

The Commanders have signed all six of their draft picks.

Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons have signed all six of their draft picks.

Carolina Panthers

The Panthers have signed all seven of their draft picks.

New Orleans Saints

The Saints have signed all eight of their draft picks.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Buccaneers have signed all seven of their draft picks.

Arizona Cardinals 

Third Round

65. Carson Beck, QB, Miami

Fourth Round

104. Kaleb Proctor, DL, Southeastern Louisiana 

Los Angeles Rams

First Round

13. Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama

Second Round

61. Max Klare, TE, Ohio State

Seventh Round

232. Tim Keenan III, DT, Alabama

San Francisco 49ers

Third Round

70. Romello Height, Edge, Texas Tech

Fourth Round

107. Gracen Halton, DT, Oklahoma

Seattle Seahawks 

The Seahawks have signed all eight of their draft picks. 

Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens have signed all eleven of their draft picks.

Cincinnati Bengals 

Second Round

41. Cashius Howell, Edge, Texas A&M

Cleveland Browns

First Round

24. K.C. Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M

Pittsburgh Steelers

Third Round

76. Drew Allar, QB, Penn State

Buffalo Bills

Fourth Round

102. Jude Bowry, OT, Boston College

Miami Dolphins

First Round

12. Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama

27. Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State

Second Round

43. Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech

Third Round

75. Caleb Douglas, WR, Texas Tech

87. Will Kacmarek, TE, Ohio State

94. Chris Bell, WR, Louisville 

Fourth Round

130. Trey Moore, Edge, Texas

138. Kyle Louis, LB, Pittsburgh

Fifth Round

158. Michael Taaffe, S, Texas

177. Kevin Coleman Jr., WR, Missouri

180. Seydou Traore, TE, Mississippi State

Sixth Round

200. D.J. Campbell, G, Texas

Seventh Round

238. Max Llewellyn, Edge, Iowa

New England Patriots

First Round

28. Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah

Second Round

55. Gabe Jacas, Edge, Illinois

New York Jets

First Round

30. Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana

Third Round

103. Darrell Jackson Jr., DT, Florida State

Houston Texas

26. Keylan Rutledge, G, Georgia Tech

Fourth Round

106. Febechi Nwaiwu, G, Oklahoma 

Indianapolis Colts

Fourth Round

113. Jalen Farmer, G, Kentucky

135. Bryce Boettcher, LB, Oregon

Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars have signed all ten of their draft picks.

Tennessee Titans

The Titans have signed all eight of their draft picks.

Denver Broncos

Third Round

66. Tyler Onyedim, DT, Texas A&M

Kansas City Chiefs 

First Round

6.   Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU

29. Peter Woods, DL, Clemson

Las Vegas Raiders

First Round

1.  Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana

Third Round

67. Keyron Crawford, Edge, Auburn

Fourth Round

101. Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee

Los Angeles Chargers

First Round

22. Akheem Mesidor, Edge, Miami

Fourth Round

105. Brenen Thompson, WR, Mississippi State 

Vikings Quarterbacks

The Minnesota Vikings have a very interesting and talented quarterback room. 

J.J. McCarthy

Kyler Murray

Carson Wentz

Max Brosmer

Despite having the fewest career starts of the top-3, J.J. McCarthy gets top billing for being the returning starter. One only has to take a look at the past threes seasons to understand why the Vikings might want a quarterback room with three potential starters. Two of the seasons crashed when injuries decimated the position. In 2023, the Vikings started four different quarterbacks (Kirk Cousins, Jaren Hall, Josh Dobbs, and Nick Mullens). Dobbs was acquired in a trade just days before he was forced on the field. In 2025, the Vikings started three different quarterbacks (J.J. McCarthy, Carson Wentz, Max Brosmer). McCarthy and Brosmer took their first NFL snaps last season. Wentz missed the offseason and training camp as he wasn’t signed until late August. Less than a month later, he was making his first start for the Vikings. Two promising seasons were ruined when injuries wiped out the quarterback room. Hall and Brosmer, as late-round and undrafted rookies, weren’t ready for NFL regular season action. Dobbs and Wentz barely knew their teammates when they were forced to take the field. To prevent a repeat of those two disastrous seasons, the Vikings decision-makers decided to take advantage of unique opportunities to boost their quarterback room. With the Arizona Cardinals paying Murray nearly $40 million this season, the Vikings were able to add the talented veteran for a league-minimum $1.3 million. Wentz signed for $3 million. On the third year of his rookie deal, McCarthy is the most expensive quarterback on the roster at about $6 million. It’s a very unique opportunity for a team to have a quarterback room of this quality and potential for a combined salary of about $11 million. 

When pundits across the country questioned J.J. McCarthy’s Vikings future with the signing of Kyler Murray and then Carson Wentz, they completely missed the obvious. The Vikings don’t want a repeat of the 2023 and 2025 seasons. They don’t want a season torpedoed by injuries at the game’s most important position. They don’t want to play a game with a quarterback not ready to play. As much as improving the level of play of the starter, the Vikings wanted to improve the talent in the room. They also hope that the competition within the room will raise the level of play of whichever quarterback starts. 

A Vikings Quarterback Competition. 

Many in the media and fans scoff at the thought that the Vikings have a quarterback competition. Of course, it’s Kyler Murray. He may have signed for an insane bargain price but he’s a significant improvement over the young J.J. McCarthy. Maybe. Just because many doubt there’s a competition, it doesn’t mean there isn’t one. If McCarthy somehow outplays Murray, he should start. A coach that starts a player that hasn’t earned the job, simply because the media and fans says that he has on signing, should not be coaching. Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell said that there’s a quarterback competition. Despite his saying that, every Vikings player and coach is still asked “is there a quarterback competition?” It’s one of those mind-numbing situations in which the damn question is asked despite the damn fact that it’s already been answered. Until O’Connell announces the starter, there’s a quarterback competition. Accept it. Believe it or not, it’s the situation no matter how many times the damn question is asked. 

In today’s NFL, drama always seems to be more important than the play on the field. My fear with this Vikings quarterback competition is that interactions between Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy will get more attention than their respective play. The first offseason practice open to the media brought just that. Both quarterbacks played well on the field. That was put aside by many in the media and fans to the respective post-practice comments of Murray and McCarthy. Murray gave the typical “company” responses to questions. McCarthy answered them honestly and was criticized mercilessly for it. On-the-field, and off-, he can never do anything right in the opinions minds of so many. I’ve never seen anything like the coverage and criticism of McCarthy. It’s as if he’s somehow personally wronged his critics. Give the kid a break. He’s just trying to make a career in football. Let him compete for the Vikings quarterback job. Perhaps Murray wins it. Based simply on his experience and undeniable talent, he’s certainly the favorite. Just let the process play out. No matter who is named the starter, the Vikings will be better for the competition and the talent in the quarterback room. 

Second Round Signing Tracker

A recent pick-signing trend has been the difficulty in getting second-round picks signed. That’s because players, or their agents, have been trying to get some of the contract guarantees that had only gone to the players selected in the first round. Something has changed this year. Here’s a look at the pick-singing progress of the players selected in the second round. 

2026 NFL Draft - Second Round Signing Tracker

1.   San Francisco 49ers: De’Zhaun Stribling, WR, San Francisco 49ers - Signed

2.   Arizona Cardinals: Chase Bisontis, G, Texas A&M - Signed

3.   Buffalo Bills: T.J. Parker, Edge, Clemson - Signed

4.   Houston Texans: Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State - Signed

5.   New York Giants: Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee - Signed

6.   Las Vegas Raiders: Treydan Stukes, DB, Arizona - Signed

7.   Cleveland Browns: Denzel Boston, WR, Washington - Signed

8.   Kansas City Chiefs: R Mason Thomas, Edge, Oklahoma - Signed

9.   Cincinnati Bengals: Cashius Howell, Edge, Texas A&M

10. New Orleans Saints: Christen Miller, DT, Georgia - Signed

11. Miami Dolphins: Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech

12. Detroit Lions: Derrick Moore, Edge, Michigan - Signed

13. Baltimore Ravens: Zion Young, Edge, Missouri - Signed

14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Josiah Trotter, Missouri - Signed

15. Pittsburgh Steelers: Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama - Signed

16. Atlanta Falcons: Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson - Signed

17. Carolina Panthers: Lee Hunter, DT, Texas Tech - Signed

18. New York Jets: D’Angelo Ponds, CB, Indiana - Signed

19. Minnesota Vikings: Jake Golday, LB, Cincinnati - Signed

20. Green Bay Packers: Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina - Signed

21. Indianapolis Colts: C.J. Allen, LB, Georgia - Signed

22. Philadelphia Eagles: Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt - Signed

23. New England Patriots: Gabe Jacas, Edge, Illinois

24. Jacksonville Jaguars: Nate Boerkircher, TE, Texas A&M - Signed

25. Chicago Bears: Logan Jones, C, Iowa

26. Cleveland Browns: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo - Signed

27. Houston Texans: Marlin Klein, TE, Michigan - Signed

28. Tennessee Titans: Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas - Signed

29. Los Angeles Rams: Max Klare, TE, Ohio State

30. Buffalo Bills: Donald Igbinosun, CB, Ohio State - Signed

31. Los Angeles Chargers: Jake Slaughter, C, Florida - Signed

32. Seattle Seahawks: Bud Clark, S, TCU - Signed

27 of the 32 players selected in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft have signed. That’s a significant improvement over recent years. In those years, perhaps a handful of second round picks were signed at this point in the offseason. 

Minnesota Vikings Free Agent Additions

The primary free agency focus of the Minnesota Vikings this year was cutting costs. They had spent heavily recently and the salary cap structure was leaning the wrong way. The offseason brought more roster subtractions than additions. At least, that was the case at the start of free agency. Ultimately, the Vikings ended up with a free agent class that could be as productive any in recent memory. 

Minnesota Vikings Free Agent Additions

James Pierre, CB

Kyler Murray, QB

Johnny Hekker, P

Ryan Van Demark, OT

Eric Johnson II, DL

Jauan Jennings, WR

Isaiahh Loudermilk, DL

The Vikings added seven outside free agents for less than the amount they were scheduled to pay Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave. While Johnny Hekker, Eric Johnson II, and Isaiahh Lowdermilk will be competing for roster spots, Kyler Murray, James Pierre, Ryan Van Demark, and Jauan Jennings will play critical roles for the Vikings this season. Murray and J.J. McCarthy will compete for the starting quarterback job. With Pierre joining Byron Murphy Jr. and Isaiah Rodgers, Brian Flores will finally be able to put a talented trio of corners on the field together. Flores clearly likes the versatility of safeties. Was he forced to lean on the safeties because he couldn’t trust the corners beyond his top two? Who knows? We may find out this season. Last year, the Vikings finally put together a talented starting offensive line. Unfortunately, the starting five played fewer than 100 snaps together. That’s about one game of snaps. Offensive line injuries, and the resulting inconsistencies, wrecked the Vikings offense. It also led to injuries to quarterbacks McCarthy and Carson Wentz. The offensive line was a mess and the offense was a mess. To clean that mess, the Vikings targeted Buffalo Bills restricted free agent Van Demark to improve the offensive line depth. The cap to this productive, cost-efficient offseason was Jennings. In Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, the Vikings have the best receiving duo in the league. When Jalen Nailor departed for the Las Vegas Raiders for a nice bag of cash, it created a significant third receiver need. From the start of free agency, Jennings was a dream solution. The only problem was that his reported contract expectations were around $20 million per year. The fact that he was still available after the draft seemed to confirm those reports. There’s no way the Vikings could afford that sort of deal. Somehow, Jennings signed with Minnesota for a base salary of only $8 million. Incentives could boost that to $13 million. Even at $13 million, he’s a steal. Now, the Vikings have the best receiving trio in the league. 

This wasn’t the most active free agency in Vikings franchise history but it might be the most efficient. It helps to luck into a starting quarterback, and potential franchise quarterback, for only $1.3 million. A top-three corner for $4 million? A starting-caliber tackle for $4 million? An elite third receiver for a base of $8 million? The Vikings filled four critical roster positions for less than $18 million. The roster is stronger than it was in March and it was done by cutting costs. That’s pretty efficient. 

First Round Signing Tracker

The 2026 NFL Draft was over a month ago. That means that teams are more than a month into the task of signing the players they drafted. Here’s a look at the signing status of the first round picks.

2026 NFL Draft - First Round

1.   Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana 

2.   New York Jets: David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech - Signed

3.   Arizona Cardinals: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame - Signed

4.   Tennessee Titans: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State - Signed

5.   New York Giants: Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State

6.   Kansas City Chiefs: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU

7.   Washington Commanders: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State - Signed

8.   New Orleans Saints: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State - Signed

9.   Cleveland Browns: Spencer Fano, OT, Utah - Signed

10. New York Giants: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami 

11. Dallas Cowboys: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State - Signed

12. Miami Dolphins: Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama

13. Los Angeles Rams: Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama

14. Baltimore Ravens: Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State - Signed

15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Rueben Bain Jr., Edge, Miami - Signed

16. New York Jets: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon - Signed

17. Detroit Lions: Blake Miller, OT, Clemson - Signed 

18. Minnesota Vikings: Caleb Banks, DT, Florida - Signed

19. Carolina Panthers: Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia - Signed

20. Philadelphia Eagles: Makai Lemon, WR, USC - Signed

21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State - Signed

22. Los Angeles Chargers: Akheem Mesidor, Edge, Miami

23. Dallas Cowboys: Malachi Lawrence, Edge, UCF

24. Cleveland Browns: KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M

25. Chicago Bears: Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon

26. Houston Texans: Keylan Rutledge, G, Georgia Tech

27. Miami Dolphins: Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State

28. New England Patriots: Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah

29. Kansas City Chiefs: Peter Woods, DT, Clemson

30. New York Jets: Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana

31. Tennessee Titans: Keldric Faulk, Edge, Auburn

32. Seattle Seahawks: Jadarian Price, RB, Notre Dame 

15 of the 32 players selected in the first round have signed.

Minnesota Vikings General Manager History

The Minnesota Vikings are in the process of finding a new general manager. Despite being one of the league’s most consistently competitive teams for nearly 60 years, the Vikings have had a somewhat problematic general manager history. The exception to that problematic history is Jim Finks. He has a bust in Canton for being one of the best to ever do the job. Finks built the Vikings teams that went to four Super Bowls from 1969-76. It’s a damn shame that he left the team in 1974. It’s an even greater shame that he went to the Chicago Bears. For whatever reason, the Vikings turned the team’s football decision-making over to career businessmen after Finks. Here’s a look at the somewhat puzzling and often troubling general manager history of the Minnesota Vikings. 

Bert Rose (1961-63)

Bert Rose got things rolling for the expansion Minnesota Vikings. He came up with the name and the color scheme for the team. Rose saw the “Vikings” moniker having a dual purpose. It represented a strong and aggressive entity as well as the numerous Scandinavians in the Minnesota region. Inspired by the colors of his alma mater, the University of Washington, Rose chose purple and gold as the color scheme for the Vikings. He selected Los Angeles cartoonist Karl Hubenthal to design the team’s helmet, uniform, and logo. After attending to those important matters, Rose hired former Los Angeles Rams and Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Norm Van Brocklin as the Vikings first head coach. 

Jim Finks (1964-73)

There’s a reason Jim Finks was the second general manager, after Tex Schramm, to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He built teams into annual contenders. The Vikings were his first. One of his first great decisions was hiring Bud Grant as the franchise’s second head coach in 1967. Two years later, the Vikings were in Super Bowl IV. The teams that went to four Super Bowls, and should’ve gone to at least a couple more, were built by Finks. 

1974 was a transition-year when it comes to the Vikings general manager position. Jim Finks resigned in May 1974. The 1974 NFL Draft was held in late January so Finks was around for that as well as the bulk of the offseason. Without free agency, NFL offseasons weren’t the “events” they are today. When Finks departed in May much of the year’s team construction was already done. On August 15, 1974, Mike Lynn was hired as assistant to the president (Max Winter) of the Vikings. Lynn quickly burrowed his way into Winter’s embrace and was named general manager less than a year later. 

Mike Lynn (1975-90)

Mike Lynn really had no business being a general manager. He was a businessman. Maybe he was a good one. I know that he was a terrible general manager. At the start of his (too long) run as the Vikings general manager, Lynn admittedly let the actual football people make the football decisions. At some point, he decided to take a crack at those decisions. It was a mistake. When Bud Grant decided to retire after the 1983 season, he recommended offensive coordinator Jerry Burns as his replacement. Instead of doing the right thing, Lynn opted for receivers coach Les Steckel. It was a mistake. 1984 was the most painful season in all my years as a Vikings fan. The year was so bad that Grant returned as coach in 1985 to get the team back above water. As he should’ve been in 1984, Burns was named the head coach in 1986. Lynn was a terrible general manager. His football idiocy is probably best defined by the “Herschel Walker Trade.” That travesty of a trade helped turn the Dallas Cowboys into three-time champions and set the Vikings back years. I really don’t understand how this weasel became a favorite within the team and around the league. By the late 1980s, he had one of the most influential voices in league circles. 

Jeff Diamond (1991-98)

After the failure of Mike Lynn, Vikings ownership decided to make the same mistake in promoting Jeff Diamond to general manager in 1991. Lynn wasn’t a football person. Diamond wasn’t a football person. As a result, both “learned” the job as they held the job. Diamond joined the Vikings in 1976 as a public relations gofer. 15 years later, he was doing a job he had no business doing. For most of the league’s history, the head coach made, or oversaw, all football decisions. As late as the 1990s, an NFL general manager was nothing like the critical franchise fixture it is today. Coaches and a handful of scouts ran the draft and built the team. Everything started to change in 1993 with the introduction of free agency. Even though Diamond held the top personnel job in Minnesota, I think it’s safe to say that head coach Dennis Green and the scouts ran the drafts and made the bulk of the roster-building decisions. Diamond did handle the contacts and for that he was named NFL Executive of the Year in 1998. He received that award for jamming a handful of big contracts under that year’s salary cap. Instead of facing the pain of those big deals in the years beyond 1998, Diamond bolted for the Tennessee Titans in 1999. 

Tim Connolly (1999)

Another businessman running the Vikings personnel department. Tim Connolly inherited the role when Jeff Diamond bolted for Tennessee. Fortunately, Connolly’s run in Minnesota was short. 

Dennis Green (2000)

Red McCombs owned the Vikings from 1998 until he sold the team to the Wilf family in 2005. It’s safe to say that McCombs didn’t want to spend much more than the $250 million it took to buy the team. He didn’t provide much money for assistant coaches. There didn’t appear to be any money for a general manager. As a result, Dennis Green had the dual role of head coach and general manager in 2000. He was really already doing both even without the title. McCombs was probably thrilled when he could fire both his head coach and his general manager in one move. 

Rob Brzezinski (2001-05)

Rob Brzezinski came to Minnesota from the Miami Dolphins in 1999. He’s been a franchise fixture ever since. As VP of Football Operations, he’s given the Vikings de facto general manager role from 2001-05 by Pro Football Reference. In reality, the closest he’s come to being the general manger was this past offseason. From 2001-05, the coaches (led by Mike Tice) and scouts (led by Scott Studwell on the college side) probably made the football decisions. 

Fran Foley (2006)

A year after buying the Vikings, the Wilfs hired Brad Childress as head coach and Fran Foley as VP of Player Personnel. The owners decided to go with the ill-conceived and poorly named “Triangle of Authority.” Childress, Foley and Rob Brzezinski made up the triangle and collectively made football decisions. Hiring Foley was a mistake. It was soon revealed that he had lied about portions of his career in football. He was also reportedly problematic in the building. A few days after the 2006 draft, Foley was fired. 

Rick Spielman (2006-21)

Rick Spielman was hired to replace Fran Foley. The “Triangle of Authority” might not have continued by name but it continued in practice. Spielman simply replaced Foley in the triangle. He was promoted to general manager in 2012. This is significant as Spielman was the first football guy to be named Vikings general manager since Jim Finks departed in 1974. Spielman has his critics. All general managers do. I believe that he did a fine job as general manager. When he and head coach Mike Zimmer were getting along, I felt the Vikings were heading in the right direction. Unfortunately, the relationship fell apart at the end. 

Kwesi Adofo-Mensah (2022-25)

The Wilfs decided to try their luck with an analytics-centric decision-maker when they hired Kwesi Adofo-Mensah in 2022. While I liked that he stressed the importance of getting on the grass and actually scouting players, he was a spreadsheet-guy at heart. Perhaps I’m being overly nostalgic, I’m convinced that a team’s top decision-maker must be a career football guy. Even if I’m skeptical about the choice, I always hope that any person the Vikings hire, sign, or draft works out beautifully. I hoped until the very end that Adofo-Mensah would get a handle on football team-building. It’s safe to say that none of his four drafts were great. The first was simply terrible. Four years on and none of the ten players selected in 2022 are on the roster. That’s bad. Fortunately for the team, he did hit on several players in free agency. 

Rob Brzezinski (2026)

While Rob Brzezinski didn’t come up through the scouting side of football, he’s had an active role in team-building for decades. His primary role has been the management of the salary cap. With that he’s arguably the league’s best. According to those inside and outside the building, his people skills are universally considered a strength. He knows his lane. He relies on those that do the scouting and evaluating. He builds a consensus. From a distance, it looks like his offseason as the interim general manager was successful. I have no doubt that he’ll do fine if he gets the full-time job but I’m not so sure I want him to get it. The general manager is always one, or two, bad drafts away from being fired. Brzezinski is too important to the Vikings to be on the annual chopping block. 

Because of the Mike Lynn years and the front office confusion of the early 2000s, I’ve known that the Vikings have had a troublesome general manager history. I didn’t realize the extent of the troubles until putting this timeline together. It really is amazing that the team managed to stay competitive through most of the troubling years. I was too young to truly appreciate it at the time but I sure miss the sound decision-making of Jim Finks. Lynn, Jeff Diamond, and Tim Connolly should never have risen to general manager. I suppose the Vikings remained competitive over the years because it was the coaches and scouts that ran the drafts. Those business bozos wouldn’t know a flanker from a nose tackle. People talk about this year’s draft being a coach’s draft. Nearly every draft since Finks left has been a coach’s draft in Minnesota. 2026 will be the Vikings 66th season. In all that time, the team was in solid general manager hands with Jim Finks and Rick Spielman. That’s about 26 of those years. Bert Rose was great in getting the team up and running. When it came to actual football decisions, head coach Norm Van Brocklin and Director of Player Personnel Joe Thomas called the shots in the early years of the franchise. To be fair, it really wasn’t until well into the free agency era that the general manager became the all-important team-building position it is today. Before the explosion of free agency, college and pro scouts did the work and the coaches made the decisions. Each offseason was just the draft, a trade or two, and a handful of waiver claims. Free agency added a whole new level to team-building and the demands became too great for most head coaches. For the past couple decades, the general manager has perhaps rivaled the head coach in importance. Especially since it’s often the general manager that hires the head coach. With the Vikings days away from hiring their next general manager, it’s easy to dream and hope for a return to the solid days of Jim Finks.