The New Vikings GM Gets the Seal of Approval in 1 Key Area
As it relates to the 53-man roster, the new Vikings GM has the final call. So says Mark Wilf.
Nolan Teasley is officially the general manager, getting hired and introduced in June after the January firing of Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. Just as a restaurant owner would allow the hired chef to cook, the Minnesota Vikings are allowing Mr. Teasley to choose the final ingredients for Sunday meals.
The New Vikings GM Gets Final Call on 53
Mark Wilf is perhaps the most recognizable person within the team’s broader ownership crew. He is, after all, the individual tasked with doing media most often. After some questions for Teasley, the focus shifted to how ownership had structured the position. Who gets the final call?
Check out how Wilf described the situation: “He’s the general manager of the organization. He has final say on the roster, the 53. But in the end, he’s going to lean heavily — and he’ll say it himself — on our head coach, obviously, and people like Rob Brzezinski.”
In other words, a collaborative process, albeit one that sees the tiebreaker residing in Teasley.
At this stage, the Minnesota Vikings should be keen to hand things off to Nolan Teasley.
Seattle’s roster was absolutely loaded last season. Sam Darnold gets a pile of attention in the Twin Cities since he’s the passer who got away, a strong QB1 capable of moving a team toward a Super Bowl win (as he definitively proved as a Seahawk). Do note, though, that Darnold alone wasn’t the key toward that Lombardi.
Where would Seattle have been without RB Kenneth Walker III, CB Devon Witherspoon, WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, OT Charles Cross, DT Byron Murphy, and so many others? Nowhere near a championship, that’s for sure.
Plus, the veteran additions proved to be savvy. Again, Darnold is the foremost example; again, Darnold is not alone.
Veteran defensive tackle Leonard Williams is a fantastic football player even as he climbs into his 30s. Making the move for him was reasonably bold, requiring a 2nd and 5th to get sent to the Giants to bring the large lad from the Big Apple to the Emerald City. Likewise, Rashid Shaheed wasn’t cheap on the trade market but was vital. WR Cooper Kupp was a nice complement and LB Ernest Jones was fantastic. Looking around Seattle’s roster would surely involve uncovering other examples.
As the former Director of Pro Personnel in Seattle, Nolan Teasley has his fingerprints all over these moves.
As June gets going, the Vikings have seen most of the hay put into the barn. Most of the free agent deals are done and the 2026 NFL Draft has taken place. Goodness, even the June 1st financial windfall has arrived, equipping Minnesota with a bit more buying power.
Nolan Teasley is coming in afterwards, entrusted with making the call on the great descent that will take place at the end of August. He’ll need to shepherd his team from 90 players down to 53 men on the roster alongside 16 more for the practice squad.
Before the fateful day arrives, Teasley may pull off a signing or two (and maybe even a trade). He’ll make the final call on whether each individual add is the best route.
