Do the Vikings Have a New GM?

Now that the draft is over, the Minnesota Vikings turn their attention to filling their general manager position. Interim general manager Rob Brzezinski remains an option if he wants the job, but an announcement today in Philadelphia may signal that the Vikings are going in another direction to fill their general manager position.

The Philadelphia Eagles announced that assistant general manager Alec Halaby is leaving the team after ten years serving under Howie Roseman, widely regarded as one of the best general managers in the league. Halaby had been with the Eagles for 17 years, climbing the ladder from intern in 2007 to being named assistant general manager in 2022. Halaby is 39 and while his future plans were not detailed, he is leaving to pursue “other football related activities.” Halaby is a prime candidate for a general manager position, given his background, and there is only one general manager position open right now- with the Vikings. Halaby has previously interviewed for open general manager positions with other teams.

Halaby has worked across all departments in football operations, from scouting to strategy to data analysis.  In a 2023 interview, Halaby talked about his responsibilities. He began as an analytics guy with a Harvard education, but branched out into other areas over his career with the Eagles.

“So the bulk of my time is spent on personnel with our pro guys, with our college guys,” Halaby said during a 2023 interview. “But I spend a lot of time on analytics and obviously have a history there. Spend a lot of time with cap guys, a lot of time with sports performance, a lot of time with our coaches. I’m grateful that Howie lets me … work across all those different areas. And it keeps you sort of continuously learning throughout your career. And understanding how the whole operation works.”

Halaby seems well groomed for a general manager position given that he’s been exposed to all the different areas and aspects of football operations that a general manager has to deal with over his tenure with the Eagles. His stepping down from his role as assistant general manager at this point to pursue other football related activities with only one general manager position open seems like a big clue to what his future position may be.

I could be wrong about that- there has been no announcement from the Vikings- but it’s a coincidence that is difficult to ignore.

Stay tuned.