The Minnesota Vikings have taken their sweet time to jump headfirst into the race to sign a new general manager. However, there’s nothing wrong with being thorough, especially when the decision will have a profound impact on the team for years to come.
But that still isn’t stopping Vikings fans from breathing a sigh of relief that finally the team is in the hunt for Rick Spielman’s replacement.
After going quiet, following the firings of coach Mike Zimmer and Spielman, the Vikings are requesting a splurge of interviews. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo is reporting Philadelphia Eagles executives Catherine Raiche and Brandon Brown as names on that list, while Tom Pelissero named New England Patriots player personnel consultant Eliot Wolf and Cleveland Browns execs Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Glenn Cook.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vice president of player personnel John Spytek has also been named, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The most interesting name on the list is Raiche, who is the current vice president of football operations for the Eagles. There has only been one woman to serve as an acting GM over an NFL team and that was Susan Tose Spencer, who served in that role over the Eagles in 1983.
So everything is coming full-circle back to Philly.
Raiche has done a tremendous job in her time with the Eagles, and it’s a big reason why her name is coming up in interviews. Brown’s name actually came up on our list of five options to replace Spielman as Vikings GM.
The Vikings are expected to hire a GM before they move forward in selecting a new head coach. So don’t be surprised if they’re swift in this process.
