Right now, the Minnesota Vikings are navigating one of the most pivotal offseasons in recent memory - and they’re doing it with a familiar group at the helm. Head coach Kevin O’Connell and longtime cap wizard Rob Brzezinski are currently steering the ship, with the front office in a bit of flux following the departure of general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. A permanent replacement won’t be named until after the NFL Draft, leaving the Vikings in a unique holding pattern as they prepare for a critical 2026 campaign.
There’s a chance Minnesota could keep things in-house and hand the reins to Brzezinski, who’s been with the organization for nearly three decades. But that would require him wanting the job - and that’s far from a given. The Vikings are expected to consider a full slate of candidates, but one name keeps surfacing in league circles: George Paton.
George Paton: A Familiar Face with Strong Ties to Minnesota
Paton isn’t just any candidate. He’s a former Vikings executive who spent 14 years in Minnesota from 2007 to 2020, serving as Rick Spielman’s right-hand man.
After leaving to become the Denver Broncos’ general manager in 2021, Paton now finds himself in an interesting spot. His contract in Denver runs through the 2026 season, but multiple league sources believe the Wilf family - the Vikings’ owners - could make a serious push to bring him back.
This isn’t just about familiarity. Paton worked alongside Spielman for 22 seasons across three different organizations - the Bears, Dolphins, and Vikings - and played a key role in building multiple playoff-caliber rosters. While Spielman is currently serving as a senior football advisor with the New York Jets, Paton represents the closest thing to a return to that era without actually bringing Spielman back.
And make no mistake - this would be a sharp departure from the Adofo-Mensah era. Where Adofo-Mensah leaned into analytics and a more modern, data-driven approach, Paton is a traditional football evaluator with a deep scouting background. He’s built rosters through a blend of smart drafting and targeted free agency, and that old-school approach might be exactly what ownership is looking for to stabilize the franchise.
The Contract Complication
There’s one major wrinkle: Paton is still under contract in Denver. That means the Vikings can’t just pick up the phone and offer him the job.
They’d need to negotiate compensation with the Broncos - a process that could get complicated, especially considering Minnesota’s current roster needs. Every draft pick and asset counts right now, and giving any up to land a GM would be a tough pill to swallow.
Still, if Paton were a free agent, it’s likely this move would already be done. The timing of Adofo-Mensah’s dismissal - after the season but before the draft - suggests the Vikings are willing to be patient and strategic. They’re not rushing this hire, and if Paton is truly the target, they’re prepared to wait until the timing (and the terms) are right.
The League Sees the Fit
This isn’t just speculation from the outside. Insiders around the league are connecting the dots.
Alec Lewis of The Athletic listed Paton as one of the top candidates on his GM shortlist. Mike Sando, also of The Athletic, echoed the sentiment, noting that Paton’s role in Denver has fundamentally changed since Sean Payton arrived as head coach and took control of football operations.
That shift in power dynamics could open the door for Paton to consider a new opportunity - especially one that would bring him back to a franchise he knows intimately. The Vikings’ front office structure, culture, and ownership are all familiar territory for him, and that kind of continuity could be appealing to both sides.
A Track Record That Speaks for Itself
Paton’s results in Denver have been quietly impressive. In five seasons, he’s built a roster that’s gone 44-41 - but those numbers don’t tell the full story.
The last two years have been particularly strong. The Broncos reached the Wild Card round during Bo Nix’s rookie campaign, finishing 10-7.
This past season, they went 14-3, and if not for a devastating ankle injury to Nix, they might’ve made an even deeper playoff run.
Perhaps most importantly, Paton solved the quarterback riddle - something Adofo-Mensah never quite managed in Minnesota. While the Vikings have cycled through stopgaps and speculative draft picks, Paton identified and secured his franchise QB. That kind of move changes everything for a team, and the Vikings - still searching for stability under center - may see Paton as the executive who can finally bring that long-term solution to Minnesota.
What Comes Next
The Vikings are clearly in no rush to name their next general manager, and that’s by design. With the draft looming and the roster in need of reinforcements, the team is prioritizing stability in the short term while keeping an eye on the long game. Whether that long game includes George Paton remains to be seen, but the interest is real, the connections are deep, and the fit makes a whole lot of sense.
For now, O’Connell and Brzezinski will continue managing the offseason blueprint. But don’t be surprised if, come summer, a familiar face walks back through the doors at TCO Performance Center - one with a proven track record, deep Minnesota ties, and a vision for building a winner the old-fashioned way.