Makes me feel like the new GM will be a glorified head scouting GM. Seems like it is going down the road of both the GM and KOC answering to Brez when it is all said and done.

Canthony wrote:

Makes me feel like the new GM will be a glorified head scouting GM. Seems like it is going down the road of both the GM and KOC answering to Brez when it is all said and done.

You’re missing the point. KOC now has the power. The naming of the GM isn’t as important as what’s already been decided. KOC calls the personnel shots now.

No worries on my part. Slow to hire, quick to fire. What is the team missing by taking their time? Because there's a very real possibility that the team rocked this last Draft without a GM. Seems like the Wilfs want one dude at the spot that is the face of the franchise, a consensus-maker that keeps things flowing and moving forward toward a strategic goal. My guess is there is probably 2 or 3 really good candidates. It takes time. 👍

smleh wrote:

You’re missing the point. KOC now has the power. The naming of the GM isn’t as important as what’s already been decided. KOC calls the personnel shots now.

Correct. I didn't miss the point. Maybe I worded it wrong, but I thought it was clear when I said the GM will be a glorified head Scouting position.

Canthony wrote:

Correct. I didn't miss the point. Maybe I worded it wrong, but I thought it was clear when I said the GM will be a glorified head Scouting position.

KOC ain’t reporting to Rob.

StickierBuns wrote:

No worries on my part. Slow to hire, quick to fire. What is the team missing by taking their time? Because there's a very real possibility that the team rocked this last Draft without a GM. Seems like the Wilfs want one dude at the spot that is the face of the franchise, a consensus-maker that keeps things flowing and moving forward toward a strategic goal. My guess is there is probably 2 or 3 really good candidates. It takes time. 👍

I mean sticky I always love your takes but on this one. Man I don't know.... Feels like Triangle Of Authority all over again.

smleh wrote:

KOC ain’t reporting to Rob.

I believe Brez may oversee KOC and the new GM. That is just a thought is all.

Mike Olson wrote:

I mean sticky I always love your takes but on this one. Man I don't know.... Feels like Triangle Of Authority all over again.

I'm totally cool with us disagreeing, did you see the quotes from Mark Wilf this morning? Didn't sound like a TOA to me.....

StickierBuns wrote:

I'm totally cool with us disagreeing, did you see the quotes from Mark Wilf this morning? Didn't sound like a TOA to me.....

I don't think Brez will be involved at all with personnel. I do see him being someone that oversees the two, however.

Hiring a GM earlier wouldn’t have changed anything.  We’re executing a plan that was already developed and agreed upon.  The last thing you want is to bring in an executive who starts changing stuff before they know everyone’s name.  The Vikings want stability and steadiness out of their front office.  Kwesi’s first draft was done without his system in place.  He did not have his guys (you can’t really change up the whole scouting staff the month before the draft).  He probably didn’t know which voices to listen to for which areas.  Compounding that was KOC also not really having his system in place or really knowing the roster.  The results weren’t great.  Any GM we would have brought in, would be brought in for 2027.  It would have been slightly better to have the GM in already to watch how everyone handled the draft and free agency, but I don’t think it would have mattered in terms of who we’ve brought in for free agency or the draft.

IF there was going to be any urgency, it would have been b4 the draft...They have breathing space now.

==============================================

Vikings owner Mark Wilf says team has concluded ‘exploratory interviews’ in GM search

The Vikings, who will begin in-person chats in the coming days, requested interviews with nine external candidates in addition to internal candidate Rob Brzezinski.

ORLANDO – The Vikings have completed their initial round of “exploratory interviews” with general manager candidates, team co-owner Mark Wilf told the Minnesota Star Tribune at the NFL’s spring meeting Tuesday.

“Now we’re gonna go more in-depth in the coming days, more in-person versus virtual, and I’m sure we’ll have some great conversations,” Wilf said.

The Vikings requested interviews with nine external candidates. Vikings Executive Vice President of Football Operations Rob Brzezinski, who ownership tabbed as interim general manager following Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s firing in January, also asked to be considered for the full-time job.

Last week, Chargers assistant general manager Chad Alexanderdeclined to interview for the role, according to a report from Sports Illustrated.

It is unknown how many candidates will advance to second-round interviews with the Vikings. In the 2022 general manager search, they conducted second interviews with just two candidates — Adofo-Mensah and current Chicago Bears GM Ryan Poles — from their original list of eight candidates.

“We’ve interviewed different candidates, and it’s going well and progressing well,” Wilf said. “Not much new to report except to say I’m confident we’re gonna end up in a really good place, and I’m certainly excited about where we are as a football team. This will be helpful to go forward to the future.”

Four of the Vikings’ general manager candidates participated in the NFL’s revamped accelerator program, which took place simultaneously with the spring meeting in Orlando: Buffalo Bills assistant GM Terrance Gray, Los Angeles Rams assistant GM John McKay, San Francisco 49ers assistant GM RJ Gillen and Seattle Seahawks assistant GM Nolan Teasley.

It is unlikely formal conversations were had with those candidates while on site in Orlando. Only limited Vikings personnel attended, and their main focus was on the vote that awarded the 2028 NFL draft to Minnesota.

The accelerator program returned this year after the 2025 session was canceled. Thirty-four coaches and front office staffers participated in the program, which was created in 2022 with the aim of increasing diversity in leadership roles across the league. It is now open to non-minority candidates.

Current Vikings quarterback coach Josh McCown, as well as former Vikings coaches Grant Udinski (Jacksonville Jaguars offensive coordinator) and Daronte Jones (Washington Commanders defensive coordinator) attended the program.

STRIB

Full finalized list of participants for the Accelerator Program that begins today

— Jonathan Jones @jjones9 May 20, 2026

𝕏 X / Twitter — Jonathan Jones @jjones9

Full finalized list of participants for the Accelerator Program that begins today

View on X

The following candidates will get second round interviews for the #Vikings GM opening, per @jjones9:

Vikings interim GM Rob Brzezinski
Broncos AGM Reed Burckhardt
Bills AGM Terrance Gray
Rams AGM John McKay
Seahawks AGM Nolan Teasley pic.twitter.com/aOhxfpbT6W

— VikingzFanPage (@vikingzfanpage) May 20, 2026

The following candidates will get second round interviews for the #Vikings GM opening, per

@jjones9

:

Vikings interim GM Rob Brzezinski
Broncos AGM Reed Burckhardt
Bills AGM Terrance Gray
Rams AGM John McKay
Seahawks AGM Nolan Teasley

Mike Olson wrote:

I mean sticky I always love your takes but on this one. Man I don't know.... Feels like Triangle Of Authority all over again.

I think it becomes the rectangle of authority with Brez, defacto GM, KOC, and Flores.

I am also starting to think this entire process is a sham with the Wilf's already having decided it is Brez moving forward. The entire interview process is just a smoke screen to show they conducted a league wide search and couldn't find anybody better to fill the position. So time doesn't matter since their choice is already in place.

StickierBuns wrote:

25m
The following candidates will get second round interviews for the #Vikings GM opening, per
@jjones9
:

Vikings interim GM Rob Brzezinski
Broncos AGM Reed Burckhardt
Bills AGM Terrance Gray
Rams AGM John McKay
Seahawks AGM Nolan Teasley

To me, there is no wrong answer here. Definitely would love McKay or Teasley. Brez would be ok, but I’d like an outside voice brought into the mix.

My preferences, for whatever that means (nothing):

1. Rams AGM John McKay

2. (Tie) Vikings interim GM Rob Brzezinski, Seahawks AGM Nolan Teasley

Like I said, if it's anyone other then McKay or Teasley, there should be some eyebrows raised because they have better resumes that have translated into team success (Super Bowls), have learned under two of maybe the best GM's in the game and are just better overall candidates. Brzez is a nice story, but come on...

Nope...luv Brez, but not as GM.

It really is time imo to bring in outside perspectives.

As a fan, I like that final list. Obviously they like the guy from The Bills a lot, so prepare yourselves for any outcome.

purplefaithful wrote:

Nope...luv Brez, but not as GM.
It really is time imo to bring in outside perspectives.
As a fan, I like that final list. Obviously they like the guy from The Bills a lot, so prepare yourselves for any outcome.

If it is Brzez, can we all just agree that it's because it's who OConnell wanted (retains power) and not who the recommended or best candidate was for the job from the search firm? I think that would be a very safe assumption. Just hoping the Wilfs make the rational hire and bring in the candidate with the best resume and relevant experience regardless of OConnell. I won't hold my breath.

supafreak84 wrote:

If it is Brzez, can we all just agree that it's because it's who OConnell wanted (retains power) and not who the recommended or best candidate was for the job from the search firm? I think that would be a very safe assumption. Just hoping the Wilfs make the rational hire and bring in the candidate with the best resume and relevant experience regardless of OConnell. I won't hold my breath.

No, I'm not buying into that narrative...

I think KOC is a better coach and person vs where you have netted out with him.

I just hope we get a smart guy as GM, I still miss the days of Finks, Gilliam and Reichow lol!

Also, hoping the "competitive rebuild" is never uttered to any candidate within the hiring process. Let the GM come in and build it however he wants (in a....collaborative environment, of course). I fully believe that competitive mandates from ownership and lack of freedom in building the roster played huge in Poles taking the Bears job instead of the Vikings job, and we ended up hiring an unqualified stooge who was just happy to be there.