They started by extending Kevin O’Connell, just weeks after the 2024-25 season ended. Then, they turned to 2025 player personnel, using their lut of salary cap space to spend more total dollars in free agency than any other team in the league.

General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah threw around all that cash carefully, using it to ink Vikings UFAs including Byron Murphy Jr and Harrison Smith, along with notable new faces on both sides of the football, especially in the trenches.

Then, after things cooled down for a little while, the Vikings turned their contract printer settings to “executive” and finally got a new deal done with their GM, an extension that was promised to Kwesi months prior, back when KOC got his new contract.

Minnesota Vikings make front-office promotions official

Included with the Adofo-Mensah extension came reports that his “top lieutenants” — Ryan Grigson and Demitrius Washington — were in for promotions as well. On Wednesday, those deals were announced, along with matching new titles of “Assistant GM”.

The Vikings on Wednesday announced they have promoted Ryan Grigson and Demitrius Washington to Assistant General Manager positions.

“We’re proud of the continued growth and evolution of our entire football staff as we enter 2025. Our success is built on the dedication of our talented individuals who bring unique strengths to the table as we push forward to our ultimate goal of bringing a championship to Minnesota.” — Kwesi Adofo-Mensah

Minnesota Vikings Press Release

Ryan Grigson: Senior Vice President of Player Personnel –> Assistant General Manager

Ryan Grigson is more of a household football fan name, due to his five years as GM of the Indianapolis Colts from 2012-2016. By the time he was fired, Grigson was painted as the reason why Andrew Luck retired early, after he failed to put a requisite team around his superstar QB, who wound up losing his love for football in the process.

I will forever hate Ryan Grigson & what he did to Andrew Luck and my mentals as a Colts fan#Colts #ForTheShoe pic.twitter.com/ZqldOmMd0D

— Ati (@atioberoi) April 12, 2025

Grigson drafted Luck No. 1 overall out of Stanford during his first offseason running the Colts show. While in charge, Ryan Grigson’s Colts went 49-31, in large part thanks to how good Luck was. After Grigson left Indianapolis, Luck spent all of 2017 out with injury, before retiring two years later (2019).

Related: Christian Darrisaw Looks Further Along Than Expected…

Before he came to the Vikings, prior to the 2022 season, where he’s served as Kwesi’s Senior Vice President of Player Personnel, Grigson worked as an advisor and executive two different times for the Browns (2017, 2020-2021). In between stops in Cleveland, he was a “senior football consultant” for two seasons (2018-19) with the Seattle Seahawks.

Demitrius Washington: Vice President of Player Personnel –> Assistant General Manager

Demitrius Washington enters his fourth season with the Vikings in 2025, as well. He previously carried the same role as Grigson (Vice President of Player Personnel), but without the “senior” title.

Washington spent 2015-21 with the San Francisco 49ers, where he worked with Kwesi for the first time. He is the lesser-known of the two now-assistant GMs, but certainly the one with the brighter future, just given his age and career trajectory.

Kwesi & Co. used free agency and the draft to filled gaping holes on the interior of the offensive and defensive lines, while adding depth to other positions, like running back and linebacker. They also swapped quarterbacks (again), and talked Harrison Smith into one more year.

Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, other Minnesota Vikings executives receive contract extensions

And now that most of the 2025 offseason moving and grooving is over, the Minnesota Vikings are turning their focus to player development and getting their new team ready for next season, which is the perfect time for the Wilf family to reward Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and his front office staff for their hard work, with fresh contract extensions.

It’s not just Kwesi getting a new deal, though. His right-hand men, Ryan Grigson and Demitrius Washington, are getting raises and new job titles (Assistant General Managers), as well. News broke of the Vikings’ front office contract extensions Friday morning.

The #Vikings have signed GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah to a multiyear contract extension, sources tell me and @RapSheet.

The deal was signed Thursday night. Minnesota is 34-17 with two playoff trips since Kevin O’Connell and Adofo-Mensah arrived. Now both are signed for years to come. pic.twitter.com/q3EiJN9pix

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) May 30, 2025

More #Vikings news: The team is promoting Ryan Grigson and Demitrius Washington to assistant general manager, per sources.

Grigson and Washington have been Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s top lieutenants since he got to Minnesota. Now, a new contract for KAM, and new titles for his guys.

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) May 30, 2025

Hired during the 2022 offseason, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has taken a lot of heat for the unproductive drafts the Minnesota Vikings have had, since he took over, especially his infamous first class, of 2022, when he drafted Lewis Cine late in the first round, after a lengthy trade-back.

Vikings push chips all-in on Kwesi

There were whispers behind the scenes earlier this offseason that had insiders around the league wondering who exactly is making the decisions for the Vikings. There were even questions surrounding whether it was Kwesi pulling levers, or new assistant GM, Ryan Grigson.

Related: MN Vikings Insider Unable to Dig Up Any Dirt on JJ McCarthy

Then, Kwesi went home sick during the NFL Draft Combine, leaving head coach Kevin O’Connell to do multiple jobs in Indianapolis (where he flourished). That only added more fuel to Kwesi’s rumor fire, after KOC got his extension early this offseason, and Adofo-Mensah was forced to wait..

But all of that seems behind us now. The Wilf family has decided that Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is there general manager, both now, and into the future. No matter what growing pains that entails. Is he the right guy for the job, time will tell. Clearly, the Wilfs believe so.

They entered free agency with major questions at quarterback, on the interior of the offensive and defensive lines, in the secondary, at running back and at wide receiver. With nearly a month remaining until the NFL Draft, both trenches have been addressed. So has the secondary and backfield.

Skeptics pick Minnesota Vikings offseason apart

But not everyone is a fan of what the Minnesota Vikings have done over the past month. In fact, there are league executives questioning what exactly general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and his front office are trying to accomplish.

From a skeptic’s point of view, the Vikings did nothing more than sign a bunch of injury-prone veterans who may look like decent additions on paper, but who in reality, may struggle to stay on the field. Take a peak at what one anonymous NFL executive told Mike Sando (The Athletic)

The top three free agents Minnesota signed — guard Will Fries ($17.5 million APY, turns 27 on Friday), defensive tackle Jonathan Allen ($17 million APY, age 30) and defensive tackle Javon Hargrave ($15 million APY, age 32) — combined to miss 35 of 51 games last season.

“It’s like the 2015 Colts all over again, signing older guys who have been hurt, who are on third or fourth contracts,” one exec said, referencing an Indianapolis team that added 30-something former stars Trent Cole, Frank Gore, Kendall Langford and Andre Johnson in free agency… “You cannot build a team with old players, especially old players who have been cut because they were hurt.”

The Athletic

There’s really no arguing this anonymous executive’s take on the Minnesota Vikings’ free agency situation this offseason. They re-signed a 36-year-old Harrison Smith and 30-year-old Aaron Jones filled their interior line questions with guys all over the age of 30, who have struggled to stay healthy during their careers.

The only 20-something signed was new right guard, Will Fries, who missed most of 2024 due to injury. Should the Vikings’ offseason experimenting with the roster were to fail, the first finger would be pointed at the age and injury history of the free agents they signed.

More questions surrounding Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s role with the Vikings

And that brings us to the next question raised by these anonymous NFL executives, via Sando’s article on Thursday at The Athletic. It isn’t the first time we have heard this in the past month, but there are people around the league who continue to question who exactly is calling the shots behind the scenes at TCO Performance Center.

This time, however, our anonymous executives are naming names. This Vikings’ moves this offseason, at least from their experience, seems to have the fingerprints of executive director of player personnel (and former Indianapolis Colts GM) Ryan Grigson all over it. Obviously, the league has noticed how much pull head coach Kevin O’Connell and defensive coordinator Brian Flores have had with roster building, as well.

[The Vikings’ free agency strategy] caught execs’ attention at a time when general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has an unresolved contract. Some are questioning who is making the decisions for Minnesota.

Indy’s then-general manager, Ryan Grigson, is now the Vikings’ senior vice president of player personnel. Although Minnesota has struggled in the draft recently, the team has fared well at finding veteran pieces for defensive coordinator Brian Flores.

“There is no more fascinating team than Minnesota because they have 13- and 14-win seasons over the past three years but no playoff win to show for it and only one division title,” another exec said. “The head coach seems like a difference maker, a multiplier. If Kwesi does not get a new deal, would they just promote Grigson? It’s fascinating.”

Mike Sando – The Athletic

Sando’s article goes on to talk about the uncertainty surrounding the Minnesota Vikings quarterback situation, and how weird it got for a little while, with Aaron Rodgers. We all know the approach in Eagan is one of collaboration. But when does collaboration become everyone else doing one guy’s job?

Related: New Vikings O-Lineman Helped Sign His Former Teammate

That seems to be the underlying question around the NFL, when it comes to who is calling the shots for the Vikings. Yes, the Wilfs addressed questions about Kwesi’s lack of a contract extension this week, essentially telling media members that it is coming. But those plugged into the league seem hesitant to believe him.

Vikings co-owner Mark Wilf sought to quash such speculation at the league meetings, noting that the organization has had “very, very positive conversations” with Adofo-Mensah regarding a new contract. He also indicated there would be no shift in the power dynamic between head coach and GM. But until a new deal is in place, people will wonder.

Mike Sando – The Athletic

Kevin O’Connell has already picked up Coach of the Year recognition, and he has yet to lose any of his top assistants. There are some secondary options that remain, but the front office looks like it will remain intact as well.

Ryan Grigson going to stay with Minnesota Vikings

The key extensions for the Minnesota Vikings to get done this offseason revolve around Kevin O’Connell and general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. The former agreed to a new deal earlier this week. The latter has yet to be cemented. Executive Ryan Grigson isn’t going anywhere though.

The #Jets GM search has been re-opened. @Connor_J_Hughes said one GM NYJ has already told is out of the running is #Vikings senior VP of player personnel Ryan Grigson. 🙏🏽@ConnorJRogers said his No. 1 phone call if the Jets are truly opening this thing back up is #Eagles… pic.twitter.com/2s9uw6FPjD

— Paul Andrew Esden Jr (@BoyGreen25) January 22, 2025

“If it is not [Lance] Newmark, it’s going to be very interesting considering the candidates they have said no to. I know [Ryan] Grigson’s been told no too.”

Connor Hughes on the Jets GM search (X)

The New York Jets hired former Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn to be their new head coach. His hiring continues the mass exodus from Dan Campbell’s coaching staff. Minnesota didn’t experience that reality despite a 14-win season, and Grigson looks like he’ll work with Kwesi Adofo-Mensah again.

Grigson last operated as a general manager during the 2016 season with the Indianapolis Colts. He has held a lesser position with the Vikings, but understandably would love to rejoin those ranks. Adofo-Mensah isn’t going anywhere, and the opportunity with Minnesota seems nonexistent for Grigson.

Related: Vikings Finally Get Kevin O’Connell Contract Extension Done; Kwesi Adofo-Mensah Up Next

The 2025 NFL season will be the fourth for which Grigson has been employed by the Minnesota Vikings. His title is senior vice president of player personnel, and his influence permeates throughout the roster.

The longtime front office executive has worked with Minnesota since both Kevin O’Connell and Kwesi Adofo-Mensah were hired in 2022. It remains understandable that the Wilf family would prefer to keep their successful infrastructure intact.

Related: Vikings’ Kevin O’Connell Wins First Coach of the Year Honor

This offseason is of serious significance for the Minnesota Vikings. Adofo-Mensah has little in the form of draft capital but has over $70 million in cap space. Grigson should be expected to help decide how that is handled as well.

But as the legendary Tracy Lawrence once sang, “time marches on” and reality will hit every level of the organization eventually. Some will feel it quicker than others, though. Just look at the Vikings players, coaches and front office executives who will immediately turn their focus toward leaving for another job. Those guys have no choice but to swallow the L quickly, and move on.

Minnesota Vikings have multiple coaches and executives interviewing for new jobs

Then, when we look between the lines, half of the Minnesota Vikings roster is due for free agency. Who will be tasked with talking to those free agents or scouting/finding replacements? The answer to that question isn’t clear either, with senior vice president of player personnel Ryan Grigson going through an interview process with the New York Jets for their vacant GM job.

We haven’t even gotten to the multitude of coaches who have line up outside interviews, including (DC) Brian Flores, (QB Coach) Josh McCown, (WR Coach) Keenan McCardell and (Asst OC) Grant Udinski. Kevin O’Connell trade rumors are out there too, but that’s for another article.

But the biggest concern over at TCO Performance Center, surrounding all these outside interviews, may not be the total number of coaches and execs that other teams are interested in. Instead, they may be more worried about the one team that has interviewed or has interviews scheduled with most of them.

New York Jets planning a coup in Minnesota?

According to Connor Hughes, of New York Regional Sports Network “SNY”, there is increasing chatter happening within NFL insider circles — and growing concern inside of TCO Performance Center — that the New York Jets are planning a coup within the Minnesota Vikings organization.

Per Hughes, this conspiracy theory becoming truth would mean the hiring of Ryan Grigson as Jets GM, Brian Flores as Jets head coach and Josh McCown as Jets offensive coordinator.

There’s a lot of buzz going around league circles right now regarding a Ryan Grigson (general manager), Brian Flores (head coach), and Josh McCown (offensive coordinator) pairing. A source in Minnesota actually said that’s been talked about within their building.

Connor Hughes – SNY

The New York insider makes it clear in his piece that this “buzz” is coming from NFL insider circles, and even from inside the Vikings organization, but that he does not have any steam from the Jets that this is the plan. So (technically), we do not know if a Vikings coup is in their realistic plans.

Related: ESPN Insider Predicts Vikings DC Brian Flores’ New Head Coaching Job

But given that the Jets have requested, or already conducted interviews with most of the above Minnesota Vikings employees, you have to imagine the discussion of hiring all Vikings coaches and executives for their top vacancies is one that has been had in New Jersey too. It’s only logical.

Rick Spielman revenge involved in New York Jets decisions?

Wanna go a little deeper down this conspiratorial rabbit hole? Just take a peek at the former NFL executives who have been contracted by Jets owner Woody Johnson to lead the GM and head coach searches for New York…

These are league sources speculating on what they’ve heard regarding the Jets vacancy, not a Jets source telling me what they are going to do. Woody Johnson, Christopher Johnson, Hymie Elhai (team president), Mike Tannenbaum (33rd Team), and Rick Spielman (33rd Team) are the ones in and conducting these interviews.

Connor Hughes – SNY

If rumors were to become reality, this would be a shrewd football move that many would lawd for the Jets. It’s also one that would strip the Vikings of three very important pieces to their 2024 success. Is this something that we should be legitimately concerned about?

Well, I’d say if those inside the Minnesota Vikings organization are concerned, then we probably should at least have the possibility on our radars too.

That doesn’t necessarily mean the front office will look the same next season. In fact, there’s one member of the Vikings front office that is already being linked to a newly opened general manager job in New York, after the Jets fired Joe Douglas.

Minnesota Vikings exec Ryan Grigson floated as New York Jets GM candidate

Describing the New York Jets as a “mess” barely scratches the surface. This is a franchise that was struggling long before Aaron Rodgers arrived and they’ll still be “the goddamn Jets” after he is gone. But on Wednesday, Minnesota Vikings’ Senior Vice President of Player Personnel, Ryan Grigson, emerged as a potential candidate to try and fix the pattern of poor management in the Big Apple. That is… if he wants the job.

An intriguing candidate has to actually want the Jets general manager job. This will not be the most desirable opening. But since general managers enjoy longer tenures than head coaches, and only 32 of these jobs exist, the candidate pool will be fairly strong.

Winners are an easy place to start. Several executives play a pivotal role in the roster building and culture of contenders, including Eagles assistant general manager Alec Halaby, Bills director of player personnel Terrance Gray, Vikings senior vice president of player personnel Ryan Grigson, Texans executive vice president of player personnel James Liipfert, Lions assistant general manager Ray Agnew, Steelers assistant general manager Andy Weidl and Chargers assistant general manager Chad Alexander — a former lieutenant of Douglas’ in New York.

Jeremy Fowler lists potential Jets GM candidates (ESPN)

Related: Vikings Teased as Possible Landing Spot for Aaron Rodgers

The Jets don’t have a particularly intriguing draw from a roster construction standpoint, but it’s still a storied franchise, in a top sports market. As Fowler points out, there are only 32 NFL GM jobs in this world, so turn one down at your own risk.

Related: The Mysterious Case of Gabe Henderson, Who Has Disappeared from Vikings Entertainment Network

Grigson has been with Minnesota for three seasons now, but has over 25 years of NFL front office experience. He spent 2012-16 as the general manager of the Indianapolis Colts. If he is looking to get back to that level, maybe New York is it. But clearly, Fowler isn’t convinced the Jets will have their choice of candidates.

For the Vikings, Fowler’s mention of Ryan Grigson means that we can probably expect one of their top front office executives to move on sooner, rather than later. There is no NFL insider more plugged into TCO Performance Center than Fowler, who has had tentacles inside the organization since the Brett Favre era. If he is floating Grigson’s name, it’s intentional.