Vikings Request to Interview Multiple GM & HC Candidates

January 15, 2022

Earlier this week, the Minnesota Vikings fired HC Mike Zimmer as well as GM Rick Spielman, essentially cleaning house with their top two decision makers at least in terms of football leadership. While the aforementioned pair of Zimmer and Spielman both received three-year contract extensions before the 2020 season, the Vikings finished with an 8-9 record and missed the playoffs for a second consecutive year. 

Under different circumstances those may not seem like appropriate terms for dismissal but when considering their tenure has lasted 8 years together, with minimal on field success over its latter half, it quickly comes into perspective on why the decision to partway and fire each of them was made.

Over the last 8 seasons under the cumulative direction of Zimmer and Spielman, the Vikings complied a record of 72-56-1 and the team made 3 different trips to the playoffs every other year from 2015 to 2019. The height of the regime unquestionably was marked when Minnesota reached the 2017 NFC Championship Game with their league leading defense against the Eagles. However, the downward and quite frankly hard to watch fall that the franchise and fanbase has experienced since that night in Philadelphia has been marred by expensive and questionable decisions by the duo of Zimmer and Spielman.  

This past offseason for example, the Vikings invested over $45 million in guaranteed contracts in an attempt to restore the remanence of their former defense nearly half a decade later only to finish the season ranked as the league's second worst unit overall. In accordance to this, for several years now this leadership duo has also failed to retain consistency at important positions such as offensive coordinator, have made questionable trades, they've faltered in the draft and most notable have absolutely butchered any semblance of what could be considered a functional offensive line for far too long.     

All in all, this should be very exciting news and a breathe of fresh air for fans of the franchise as this marks the first time since the Wilf's bought the team in 2005 that both positions are entirely vacant. The Vikings currently hold a major opportunity to redefine and refocus the culture as well as the future direction of the team as an entirety with how they handle filling these two positions over the next several weeks.

On that note, the Wilf's have reportedly been extremely busy this past week setting up interviews with a host of different candidates for both of their open positions. It is understood that the Vikings will be looking to fill the role of General Manager however before a decision is made at Head Coach which is understandable, but it has not stopped them at all from requesting interviews for both spots.

As of right now, there is somewhat of a long list of candidates tied to the opening at General Manager. That list includes, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah who currently acts as the VP of Football Operations for the Browns, Catherine Raiche and Brandon Brown from Philadelphia's front office, the Titan's Director of Player Personnel Monti Ossenfort, Buccaneers brass John Spytek, Eliot Wolf from New England, and Chiefs executive Ryan Poles. Honestly, this list of potential hires should really excite Vikings fans. All of the interviews are set to take place over the next week and will be facilitated by an inhouse committee of executives composed from both the business and football sides of the operation in Minnesota. The Wilfs are expected to take their time with this decision, with a decision coming likely no sooner than next weekend at the earliest. 

This morning, news out of Minnesota was seemingly constant as the Vikings placed a flurry of interview requests for Head Coaching candidates as well. The team to their credit is casting an incredibly wide net in their search for Zimmer's replacement with coordinators from both sides of the ball receiving interest. While the list will likely continue to grow some notable names that have been requested for interviews so far includes but is not limited to, DC Todd Bowles from Tampa, both Dallas coordinators Kellen Moore and Dan Quinn, Rams OC Kevin O'Connell, Eagles DC Jon Gannon, Packers OC Nathaniel Hackett, as well as 49ers DC Demeco Ryans. 

Essentially, through the next few weeks Vikings fans can expect a lot more names to be tossed around in connection to the team and have plenty of potential new faces to become acquainted with. Let us know what you think, any favorite candidates for either HC or GM? 

Photo Credit © Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

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