The Minnesota Vikings have reached an agreement Saturday with Seattle Seahawks assistant Nolan Teasley to serve as their new general manager, according to a source with direct knowledge of the decision who spoke to The Associated Press.
The source requested anonymity since the contract with Teasley has not been completed yet. Teasley has worked his complete 13-year NFL tenure with Seattle, during which time the Seahawks qualified for the playoffs nine times, appeared in three Super Bowls, and captured two championships including their most recent victory in February.
In 2023, Teasley received a promotion to assistant general manager under president of football operations and general manager John Schneider, who built both championship squads. Following the Vikings’ choice not to retain quarterback Sam Darnold last season, he signed with the Seahawks and contributed to their championship success.
Teasley will take over for Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, who was dismissed in January following four seasons in the position. Adofo-Mensah represented an unconventional selection, bringing economics education and Wall Street background to professional football. Vikings owners Mark Wilf and Zygi Wilf initially sought a more collaborative leader for this position, someone who could effectively connect the personnel department with the coaching staff, though all their external candidates possessed traditional scouting experience.
Observing Darnold guide the Seahawks to the Super Bowl, following his 14-win 2024 season as the Vikings’ quarterback, certainly influenced the Wilf family’s decision to part ways with Adofo-Mensah.
Teasley emerged victorious from a group of five finalists who conducted in-person meetings this week with Vikings leadership during the second interview phase, defeating current Vikings executive vice president of football operations Rob Brzezinski, Denver Broncos assistant general manager Reed Burckhardt, Buffalo Bills assistant general manager Terrance Gray, and Los Angeles Rams assistant general manager John McKay.
Brzezinski, who oversaw the draft last month while serving as interim general manager, has worked with the Vikings since 1999 and advanced through his skills in salary cap management and player contract negotiations. Brzezinski, who commands respect within the organization and across the league, will continue in his current position working with Teasley and coach Kevin O’Connell, forming a trio the Wilfs hope will deliver the Vikings their first championship.
Among the finalists, Teasley was the only candidate without previous Vikings connections. Both Burckhardt and Gray formerly served as Vikings scouts. O’Connell previously worked for the Rams. Gray, McKay and Teasley participated in the NFL’s accelerator program that received updates during its rollout at recent league meetings.
A Washington native, Teasley completed his studies at Central Washington University in 2007 with a public relations degree, initially working in marketing before transitioning to the NFL and starting with the Seahawks as a scouting department intern in 2013. He advanced to director of pro personnel in 2018.
When the position opened in 2022 following Rick Spielman’s dismissal, Adofo-Mensah and Ryan Poles were the sole finalists to receive in-person interviews. Poles accepted a position with the Chicago Bears and continues in that role for the current NFC North champions.
