Yesterday, 08:52 AM
PHOENIX – Vikings owner Mark Wilf said the team is currently 100% focused on the upcoming NFL draft and will not commence its general manager hiring process until after its conclusion April 25.
That aligns with Wilf’s initial comments on a search timeline following Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s firing on Jan. 30, when Wilf named Rob Brzezinski as acting general manager.
Wilf was clear, though, that the process will pick up quickly once that milepost in the league calendar has passed.
“We’re gonna be deliberate about it, but we know we need to get moving for the next college season and all that and get ready,” Wilf told Twin Cities media March 30 at the NFL’s annual league meeting. “Once the draft’s concluded, we’ll get going with interviews, and moving towards a relatively expeditious process to get it going.”
With the draft less than a month away, Wilf said he is in the early stages of planning what the hiring process will look like.
The process will be ownership-driven but not without input from football staff and other key members of the executive staff, such as Chief Operating Officer Andrew Miller.
A third-party representative is expected to help with organization and contacting potential candidates for maximum thoroughness, which Wilf said is something the organization has done before. He clarified the role did not necessarily mean a member of a search firm or a consultant.
The Vikings will continue to have the general manager report directly to ownership, opting not to switch up hierarchy among the staff, but Wilf said the GM is expected to have strong collaboration with coach Kevin O’Connell and the football operations team.
As for other qualities Wilf is looking for in the next Vikings GM, he said that’s part of what this early stage of planning is for establishing.
Wilf declined to say directly whether Brzezinski will be considered as a candidate for the full-time job, stating the conversation is “not yet there.”
Brzezinski has been with the Vikings since before the Wilf family — namely Mark and his brother, Zygi Wilf — took over ownership in 2005, a fact that Wilf noted in his response to whether Brzezinski would be a candidate.
Brzezinski, who also held a session with local media Monday, did not give a direct answer on whether he would like to be considered for the job, either.
“There’s been a couple of times through this process where I’ve kind of sat back and I’ve been like, ‘Wow, this is an awesome responsibility we have right now,’ ” Brzezinski said. He added that his “we” included Senior Manager of Football Administration Emily Badis and football administration consultant Matt Thomas.
“Honestly, just really focused on that,” Brzezinski said. “We wanna get this right. And I believe we’re gonna get it right. Looking into the future at all, it’s not what I’m focused on right now.”
The intense focus on the draft from both parties is understandable. The Vikings have their most picks (nine) since 2022, which was their first season with Adofo-Mensah as GM
Brzezinski, both on Monday and previously, has expressed pride in the team’s patience and deliberate methodology this free agency. The Vikings signed four new players, including quarterback Kyler Murray, as well as re-signed or reworked contracts for a handful of key veterans.
“I think we’re in certainly a much better position than we were just even a few weeks ago, not just from the cap standpoint, but positioned well to draft best available and make us not desperate at any one position to have a strong base to build on,” Wilf said. “Fortunately we have nine picks this year. That’s a good position to be in, and we wanna make sure we hit those.”
Then, the Vikings can take their swing on their next general manager.
Strib
That aligns with Wilf’s initial comments on a search timeline following Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s firing on Jan. 30, when Wilf named Rob Brzezinski as acting general manager.
Wilf was clear, though, that the process will pick up quickly once that milepost in the league calendar has passed.
“We’re gonna be deliberate about it, but we know we need to get moving for the next college season and all that and get ready,” Wilf told Twin Cities media March 30 at the NFL’s annual league meeting. “Once the draft’s concluded, we’ll get going with interviews, and moving towards a relatively expeditious process to get it going.”
With the draft less than a month away, Wilf said he is in the early stages of planning what the hiring process will look like.
The process will be ownership-driven but not without input from football staff and other key members of the executive staff, such as Chief Operating Officer Andrew Miller.
A third-party representative is expected to help with organization and contacting potential candidates for maximum thoroughness, which Wilf said is something the organization has done before. He clarified the role did not necessarily mean a member of a search firm or a consultant.
The Vikings will continue to have the general manager report directly to ownership, opting not to switch up hierarchy among the staff, but Wilf said the GM is expected to have strong collaboration with coach Kevin O’Connell and the football operations team.
As for other qualities Wilf is looking for in the next Vikings GM, he said that’s part of what this early stage of planning is for establishing.
Wilf declined to say directly whether Brzezinski will be considered as a candidate for the full-time job, stating the conversation is “not yet there.”
Brzezinski has been with the Vikings since before the Wilf family — namely Mark and his brother, Zygi Wilf — took over ownership in 2005, a fact that Wilf noted in his response to whether Brzezinski would be a candidate.
Brzezinski, who also held a session with local media Monday, did not give a direct answer on whether he would like to be considered for the job, either.
“There’s been a couple of times through this process where I’ve kind of sat back and I’ve been like, ‘Wow, this is an awesome responsibility we have right now,’ ” Brzezinski said. He added that his “we” included Senior Manager of Football Administration Emily Badis and football administration consultant Matt Thomas.
“Honestly, just really focused on that,” Brzezinski said. “We wanna get this right. And I believe we’re gonna get it right. Looking into the future at all, it’s not what I’m focused on right now.”
The intense focus on the draft from both parties is understandable. The Vikings have their most picks (nine) since 2022, which was their first season with Adofo-Mensah as GM
Brzezinski, both on Monday and previously, has expressed pride in the team’s patience and deliberate methodology this free agency. The Vikings signed four new players, including quarterback Kyler Murray, as well as re-signed or reworked contracts for a handful of key veterans.
“I think we’re in certainly a much better position than we were just even a few weeks ago, not just from the cap standpoint, but positioned well to draft best available and make us not desperate at any one position to have a strong base to build on,” Wilf said. “Fortunately we have nine picks this year. That’s a good position to be in, and we wanna make sure we hit those.”
Then, the Vikings can take their swing on their next general manager.
Strib
Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger!
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