The Vikings’ GM Search Points to One Answer

The club will inevitably interview contenders from all walks of life, and that’s fine, but no person knows the Vikings more intimately, and you’d be hard-pressed to find someone with 27 years of experience. Brzezinski has lived through the Randy Moss, Adrian Peterson, Brett Favre, Kirk Cousins, and Kevin O’Connell eras as an employee. He’s seen some things.

Since taking over the interim role, Brzezinski has not sent up any red flags to suggest that he’s in over his head. If he were 25 years old and freshly promoted from equipment manager, that would be a different story. But Brzezinski is a war horse by now. Keep him.

The Money Part Is Down Pat

Until February, Brzezinski had run the Vikings’ budget for years. He’s the capologist, the money wizard, and the guy who makes the enterprise move when it comes to dollars and cents and sense.

In all likelihood, if Minnesota hires a different general manager, Brzezinski will slide into his previous role, and that’ll be that. However, he already has one of the difficult parts of the job down pat: organizing and managing the salary cap, and proving himself one of the best in the business at his craft. Doesn’t that deserve a promotion?

For years, fans have applauded Brzezinski for his cap magic; it just makes sense that the guy who could handle that task could be trusted for the top job, especially when he has O’Connell and Brian Flores at his side drafting the players.

Let Kevin O’Connell Lie in His Bed

The Vikings sent a clear message when they canned Adofo-Mensah: keeping O’Connell spoke volumes. Most general managers, when they get fired, find the exit sign along with the head coach. In fact, it’s rare to retain a head coach, fire the general manager, and expect a happy ending. It hardly ever works that way, and recent NFL examples (Tennessee Titans and Carolina Panthers) showed little success, with the head coach getting terminated soon after, too.

Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell chats with owner Ziggy Wilf during training camp activities at TCO Stadium on Aug. 3, 2023, in Eagan, Minnesota. The moment captures a casual exchange between leadership figures as players practice nearby and preparations continue for the upcoming NFL season. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports.

Therefore, because O’Connell was not included in the January termination, he should be held accountable as a de facto Team CEO. Minnesota, in essence, handed him the keys to the franchise when it dropped Adofo-Mensah. Keeping Brzezinski in the general manager role fits with O’Connell as the Team CEO. The two have already coexisted for a full free agency in the current setup.

Think of it this way: if the Vikings finish 6-11 this year and need a reset, they can fire O’Connell, put Brzezinski back in the capologist role, and start fresh by hiring a new general manager and head coach. It’s a way to thread the needle.

And if Minnesota doesn’t struggle, well, Brzezinski will look great in retrospect, and he’ll just keep the big job.

What Happens if the 2026 Draft Class Is Fantastic — and BRZ Is No Longer the GM?

There’s also a “fear” to consider. Pretend Minnesota says “no thanks” to Brzezinski. They slap him back in the “money guy” chair and move on to the next guy or gal. What if Brzezinski’s draft class and free-agent decisions absolutely cook? For example, Caleb Banks turns into an All-Pro in Year No. 1, running back Demon Claiborne produces a De’Von Achane-adjacent season, and Kyler Murray leads the Vikings to the NFC Championship or beyond?

Vikings executive Rob Brzezinski joins KFAN’s Paul Allen and analyst Pete Bercich for an on-site interview at the NFL Scouting Combine on Feb. 25, 2026, in Indianapolis, Indiana. The discussion centers on roster construction, cap strategy, and Minnesota’s offseason approach during a key evaluation period. Mandatory Credit: YouTube.

Folks would look back and wonder just why in the hell the Vikings didn’t keep Brzezinski.

With the current “triangle of authority,” it’s best to ride out the O’Connell era with a boss like Brzezinski, who can somewhat easily return to his old post in Minnesota if forced to blow it up again.

Not for nothing, Brzezinski is probably the frontrunner to keep the top job; why else would the Vikings let him conduct a full free agency or draft if not? They could’ve had a new general manager in place by mid-February based on normal NFL hiring timelines.