Wilf's G. M. Search Statement

MAD GAINZ wrote:

Grigson sucked in Indy, no thanks.

There's no precedent for a GM failing with one team & being successful in a next hire.

It’s quite interesting that fans are fine with our draft but think Grigson sucks considering he’s the head scout in our org and our draft looks like a completely scout based draft.

supafreak84 wrote:

No, but you don't want one that caves to the coaches routinely either because they lack relevant experience for the position and aren't making draft picks or roster moves that are in the best long term interest of the organization. As currently constructed we might as well just make OConnell the GM. Brzez is one of the best at what he does with numbers and contracts and has been around the block a few times, but in no way does that qualify him to all of a sudden be making decisions that really requires a scouting background of some depth. It's like asking the team trainer to one day take over as head coach. We need an outside voice and vision that will work with OConnell, but ultimately isn't tied to OConnell and is going to make decisions in the best long term interest of the organization.

I’m not opposed to a GM with a scouting background. I’m opposed to a GM who doesn’t collaborate with his coaching and scouting staff. Jamarcus Russell and Johnny Manziel were examples of a GM going rogue and overruling his staff. Sure, sometimes the rogue GM is right on a player. The thing is, if the GM has a wild and crazy idea, get the others on board first by explaining the vision. This happens in business every day. I suspect ego is why sometimes it doesn’t in the NFL. 

MaroonBells wrote:

I’m not opposed to a GM with a scouting background. I’m opposed to a GM who doesn’t collaborate with his coaching and scouting staff. Jamarcus Russell and Johnny Manziel were examples of a GM going rogue and overruling his staff. Sure, sometimes the rogue GM is right on a player. The thing is, if the GM has a wild and crazy idea, get the others on board first by explaining the vision. This happens in business every day. I suspect ego is why sometimes it doesn’t in the NFL.

I think you always strive to reach a general consensus, but there are always going to be times when there is no general consensus and you want a GM with relevant experience for the position who can fall back on that experience and make an informed decision. That's what you hire these guys for and when you hire someone with zero relevant experience for the position who become totally reliant upon spreadsheets and the advice of coaches, we end up with Kwesi and the failed drafts that we've had. That was always my big complaint about Kwesi...there was just never any relevant football experience in his background that qualified him to be that important decision maker. Have the Wilfs learned anything from their failed past decisions? I guess we'll find out...

MaroonBells wrote:

Jamarcus Russell and Johnny Manziel were examples of a GM going rogue and overruling his staff.

You forgot to mention Christian Ponder.

Here's the whole Athletic article that Alec Lewis dropped today:

What is the status of the Vikings’ search?

The Vikings remain in the early stages of this process.

They hired a search firm. That search firm, TurnkeyZRG, has met with agents and league executives to discuss potential candidates. It has also considered ideas about the optimal structure within the front office.

There is a trend that has arisen around the NFL in recent years. Teams like the Atlanta Falcons, Jacksonville Jaguars and New York Jets have operated with a triumvirate of sorts, where the general manager is not necessarily the lead executive. This winter, the Falcons named Matt Ryan their “president of football.” The Jaguars employ Hall of Fame offensive tackle Tony Boselli as their executive vice president of football operations. Former Vikings general manager Rick Spielman plays an influential role with the Jets as a senior football adviser.

In all of these instances, these men work alongside the head coach and a personnel figure who holds the official general manager title.

With this type of model, there are inherent questions about who reports to whom and who eventually makes the final decisions. Wading through these layers is essential before the interviews actually begin. This matters in terms of how candidates view the job.

The Vikings are in a unique position in that they have two additional variables worth noting. (1) Rob Brzezinski, the team’s longtime contract negotiator and the interim general manager, has a great deal of support from all areas of the building. And (2) the coaching staff, specifically head coach Kevin O’Connell and defensive coordinator Brian Flores, has had a major influence on personnel decisions. So, finding the right blend of personalities is the primary objective to avoid a replica of the dynamic with Adofo-Mensah in charge.

Who are the people to know at TurnkeyZRG?

Chad Chatlos and Sean Magee.

These two joined forces at TurnkeyZRG earlier this spring, and it’s a strong partnership. They both graduated from the Naval Academy decades ago. Each has an extensive career in college and professional sports. Chatlos has been part of some of college football’s more influential hires, including the Indiana committee that selected Curt Cignetti. Meanwhile, Magee was the general manager of Michigan’s football program from 2024 to 2026.

Their agent contacts and executive relationships are supposed to help in the vetting process. Because the Vikings have only hired one GM in the last decade, they’d rather defer to experts who spend every day in the space. Hiring a search firm also contributes to the perception of a sharp strategy.

How is this job viewed among NFL executives and agents?

On the surface, the Vikings have a lot to like.

They have an invested ownership group, an intensely passionate fan base, a superstar receiver in Justin Jefferson and a sharp coaching staff led by O’Connell. Players and agents respect the organization enough to choose it in free agency. (These aren’t always givens.)

Most general manager candidates cannot afford to be picky, especially those on the older end of the spectrum who have been passed up for previous jobs. But there are some potential holdups.

When Adofo-Mensah took the job in 2022, he had to meld his beliefs with a staff assembled by Spielman. Preventing turnover could affect a candidate’s belief that he can instill a new vision. Some of the stakeholders are also mindful of how much sway the coaches have. Try to wrestle that influence away, and conflict could arise.

Some of these elements could limit the level of outside interest. Still, most believe that if you offer a candidate a general manager title with a pay increase, it’ll be enticing regardless of the situation.

Why are there questions about the Vikings’ timeline?

The longer the Vikings wait to make a hire, the more difficult it will be for the new general manager to implement changes — and the longer it will take for the current staff to adapt to those changes.

New general managers tend to tweak the organization’s grading scales. They also introduce different scouting priorities and modes of communication. Because the coaching staff becomes focused on schedules and practices during the fall, there isn’t time to hold sessions that bridge gaps in football philosophies.

This lack of synergy can affect the next draft cycle. It can also affect further turnover, which keeps current employees in the dark.

Most involved expected a swift outcome for several reasons. First and foremost, Vikings co-owner Mark Wilf said in late March that the hire would be “rather expeditious” once the draft ended. The Vikings have also had three months since firing Adofo-Mensah to outline their plans.

Minnesota’s brass has decided not to publicly reveal its process. This, though, has raised further questions about who will drive the final decision, especially because Brzezinski — the most trusted internal voice on football matters — is a candidate.

Why is there such a high degree of internal support for Brzezinski?

The Wilfs selected Brzezinski as the interim general manager in late January, hoping he would stabilize the relationship between the personnel department and the coaching staff. He accomplished that task. Brzezinski worked with O’Connell and Flores to produce a draft that went mostly according to plan.

Brzezinski’s decades of experience command respect. He also operates with awareness and feel, traits that are appreciated by those on the football operations and business sides.

He has never advocated for power. Handling some of the more front-facing parts of the job isn’t his ultimate sell. More than anything, many staffers believe his knowledge of the team’s past and present structures makes him an ideal candidate for the full-time job.

What type of candidate fits best if the Vikings elevate Brzezinski?

Wilf rejected the idea of a president-style structure in late March, but it still might make sense to keep Brzezinski around while also adding some external personnel perspective.

This role would require a specific type of candidate: someone who would be mostly comfortable as an information disseminator, a staffer with ties to college and around the NFL who could funnel intel to all areas of the staff. In this scenario, the Vikings would be returning to a setup similar to the one they had with Spielman, executive George Paton and Brzezinski alongside then-head coach Mike Zimmer.

Who will make the final decision?

This is perhaps the most interesting question. Mark and Zygi Wilf will make the final call, but who their primary advisor may be remains unclear.

Chief operating officer Andrew Miller featured prominently in the Adofo-Mensah hire and extension. The Vikings said they would support the process with a small internal advisory committee, and he figures to be in that group.

On the football side, the Vikings are in more of a pickle. Brzezinski typically participates in these decisions. His candidacy not only affects his sway but also has the potential to cloud the judgment of other senior football officials.

O’Connell will be working hand in hand with this new executive, so his perspective should matter. It’s also possible that the Wilfs lean directly on Chatlos as an objective contributor.

comet52 wrote:

Here's the whole Athletic article that Alec Lewis dropped today:

What is the status of the Vikings’ search?

The Vikings remain in the early stages of this process.

They hired a search firm. That search firm, TurnkeyZRG, has met with agents and league executives to discuss potential candidates. It has also considered ideas about the optimal structure within the front office.

There is a trend that has arisen around the NFL in recent years. Teams like the Atlanta Falcons, Jacksonville Jaguars and New York Jets have operated with a triumvirate of sorts, where the general manager is not necessarily the lead executive. This winter, the Falcons named Matt Ryan their “president of football.” The Jaguars employ Hall of Fame offensive tackle Tony Boselli as their executive vice president of football operations. Former Vikings general manager Rick Spielman plays an influential role with the Jets as a senior football adviser.

In all of these instances, these men work alongside the head coach and a personnel figure who holds the official general manager title.

With this type of model, there are inherent questions about who reports to whom and who eventually makes the final decisions. Wading through these layers is essential before the interviews actually begin. This matters in terms of how candidates view the job.

The Vikings are in a unique position in that they have two additional variables worth noting. (1) Rob Brzezinski, the team’s longtime contract negotiator and the interim general manager, has a great deal of support from all areas of the building. And (2) the coaching staff, specifically head coach Kevin O’Connell and defensive coordinator Brian Flores, has had a major influence on personnel decisions. So, finding the right blend of personalities is the primary objective to avoid a replica of the dynamic with Adofo-Mensah in charge.

Who are the people to know at TurnkeyZRG?

Chad Chatlos and Sean Magee.

These two joined forces at TurnkeyZRG earlier this spring, and it’s a strong partnership. They both graduated from the Naval Academy decades ago. Each has an extensive career in college and professional sports. Chatlos has been part of some of college football’s more influential hires, including the Indiana committee that selected Curt Cignetti. Meanwhile, Magee was the general manager of Michigan’s football program from 2024 to 2026.

Their agent contacts and executive relationships are supposed to help in the vetting process. Because the Vikings have only hired one GM in the last decade, they’d rather defer to experts who spend every day in the space. Hiring a search firm also contributes to the perception of a sharp strategy.

How is this job viewed among NFL executives and agents?

On the surface, the Vikings have a lot to like.

They have an invested ownership group, an intensely passionate fan base, a superstar receiver in Justin Jefferson and a sharp coaching staff led by O’Connell. Players and agents respect the organization enough to choose it in free agency. (These aren’t always givens.)

Most general manager candidates cannot afford to be picky, especially those on the older end of the spectrum who have been passed up for previous jobs. But there are some potential holdups.

When Adofo-Mensah took the job in 2022, he had to meld his beliefs with a staff assembled by Spielman. Preventing turnover could affect a candidate’s belief that he can instill a new vision. Some of the stakeholders are also mindful of how much sway the coaches have. Try to wrestle that influence away, and conflict could arise.

Some of these elements could limit the level of outside interest. Still, most believe that if you offer a candidate a general manager title with a pay increase, it’ll be enticing regardless of the situation.

Why are there questions about the Vikings’ timeline?

The longer the Vikings wait to make a hire, the more difficult it will be for the new general manager to implement changes — and the longer it will take for the current staff to adapt to those changes.

New general managers tend to tweak the organization’s grading scales. They also introduce different scouting priorities and modes of communication. Because the coaching staff becomes focused on schedules and practices during the fall, there isn’t time to hold sessions that bridge gaps in football philosophies.

This lack of synergy can affect the next draft cycle. It can also affect further turnover, which keeps current employees in the dark.

Most involved expected a swift outcome for several reasons. First and foremost, Vikings co-owner Mark Wilf said in late March that the hire would be “rather expeditious” once the draft ended. The Vikings have also had three months since firing Adofo-Mensah to outline their plans.

Minnesota’s brass has decided not to publicly reveal its process. This, though, has raised further questions about who will drive the final decision, especially because Brzezinski — the most trusted internal voice on football matters — is a candidate.

Why is there such a high degree of internal support for Brzezinski?

The Wilfs selected Brzezinski as the interim general manager in late January, hoping he would stabilize the relationship between the personnel department and the coaching staff. He accomplished that task. Brzezinski worked with O’Connell and Flores to produce a draft that went mostly according to plan.

Brzezinski’s decades of experience command respect. He also operates with awareness and feel, traits that are appreciated by those on the football operations and business sides.

He has never advocated for power. Handling some of the more front-facing parts of the job isn’t his ultimate sell. More than anything, many staffers believe his knowledge of the team’s past and present structures makes him an ideal candidate for the full-time job.

What type of candidate fits best if the Vikings elevate Brzezinski?

Wilf rejected the idea of a president-style structure in late March, but it still might make sense to keep Brzezinski around while also adding some external personnel perspective.

This role would require a specific type of candidate: someone who would be mostly comfortable as an information disseminator, a staffer with ties to college and around the NFL who could funnel intel to all areas of the staff. In this scenario, the Vikings would be returning to a setup similar to the one they had with Spielman, executive George Paton and Brzezinski alongside then-head coach Mike Zimmer.

Who will make the final decision?

This is perhaps the most interesting question. Mark and Zygi Wilf will make the final call, but who their primary advisor may be remains unclear.

Chief operating officer Andrew Miller featured prominently in the Adofo-Mensah hire and extension. The Vikings said they would support the process with a small internal advisory committee, and he figures to be in that group.

On the football side, the Vikings are in more of a pickle. Brzezinski typically participates in these decisions. His candidacy not only affects his sway but also has the potential to cloud the judgment of other senior football officials.

O’Connell will be working hand in hand with this new executive, so his perspective should matter. It’s also possible that the Wilfs lean directly on Chatlos as an objective contributor.

I mean whoever doesn't rock the SS Mediocrity will be the hire. I heard Alec today on KFAN bringing up a potential new triangle of authority situation. You just can't make it up.