Vikings Hire Nolan Teasley as New General Manager

The Minnesota Vikings have hired Nolan Teasley as general manager, sources told NFL Network's Tom Pelissero on Saturday. Teasley spent the past 13 seasons with the Seattle Seahawks, beginning as an intern in 2013 and rising to assistant general manager in 2023. He replaces Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, whom the Vikings fired on January 30, and interim general manager Rob Brzezinski.

Brzezinski will remain with the Vikings as executive vice president of football operations, a source said. ESPN reported that Brzezinski directed the Vikings through an offseason dedicated largely to getting the franchise back under solid financial footing. Teasley was the only candidate among the five finalists without a clear connection to the Vikings or a key member of the organization.

The other finalists were Brzezinski, Buffalo Bills assistant general manager Terrance Gray, Denver Broncos assistant general manager Reed Burckhardt and Los Angeles Rams assistant general manager John McKay. " According to a source, the Wilfs view Teasley, coach Kevin O'Connell and Brzezinski as a leadership team featuring three experts in their respective fields.

Teasley, however, will be the Vikings' primary decision-maker, a source told ESPN.

An NFL spokesperson confirmed to ESPN's Kalyn Kahler that Teasley, whose father is Black, was a minority candidate. That means the Seahawks are in position to receive third-round compensatory picks in each of the next two drafts in accordance with the Rooney Rule.

Teasley will be tasked with navigating an organization that has leaned heavily on O'Connell and other members of the coaching staff to guide personnel and draft moves in recent years.

But he will enter the position with scouting credentials that Adofo-Mensah, a data analyst, never had. The Wilfs kept a relatively close circle of advisers in the hiring process, leaning mostly on O'Connell and chief operating officer Andrew Miller.

Zygi and Mark Wilf were also joined in at least some interviews by four of their adult children: Zygi's son Jonathan and Mark's sons Steven, Daniel and Andrew.

A 2007 graduate of Central Washington, where he played football through his junior year, Teasley worked in the business world for six years before deciding to change professions. He joined the Seahawks as an intern in 2013 before being promoted to pro scout. He also served as assistant director of pro personnel and then director of pro personnel before ascending to assistant general manager.