The move comes after a relatively quiet start to the offseason and a recent decision-making stain around the quarterback position last year. The team handed the starting job to unproven former first-round pick J.J. McCarthy, rather than re-signing Sam Darnold or Daniel Jones, and the results were not satisfactory. Minnesota’s leadership is rebooting its approach in response.
With Brzezinski steering the front office through the 2026 draft, there’s skepticism about how quickly a new GM will be in place. ESPN’s Kevin Seifert reported that a prominent name in play for the job could be George Paton, the current Broncos GM, whose contract runs through the 2026 season.
Paton is a logical candidate given his long history with the Vikings, including a decade working under former GM Rick Spielman. If Minnesota pursues him, it could come after Paton’s Broncos tenure expires, creating a potential “return home” scenario for Paton and a reshaping of the Vikings’ leadership from the top down.
In the near term, Minnesota faces the question of how to fill GM responsibilities until Paton’s status is resolved. Options discussed include naming a temporary, “lame-duck” GM or allowing Brzezinski to remain in charge for a year before transitioning to Paton, as the organization focuses on preparing for the 2026 draft.
