Ben Goessling

Analysis: How the Vikings could clear cap space before NFL free agency The Vikings need to clear roughly $40 million in salary cap space before the start of NFL free agency in March. Here's how they could do it.

As the #Vikings head into their offseason, a player-by-player look at the decisions and cap considerations they’ll face between now and the start of free agency in March: www.startribune.com/vikings-kwes...

Ben Goessling and Emily Leiker discuss Sam Darnold and the Seahawks' 29-13 win over the Patriots in Super Bowl LX, including how the narrative around Darnold shifted in the lead up to and aftermath… Sam Darnold is a Super Bowl champ. Who might the Vikings bring as competition for J.J. McCarthy?

New episode of Access Vikings w/ @bengoessling.bsky.social discussing the Seahawks' Super Bowl win and its effect on the narrative around Sam Darnold before opening up the mailbag to answer listener Qs on GMs, QBs and more.

Listen wherever you get your pods or watch: youtu.be/UPi2BjMgr18

Putting out a call for some more Qs to answer on Access Vikings w/ @bengoessling.bsky.social tomorrow.

Super Bowl, GM search, Combine, draft -- whatever you're curious about!

Sign up for Access Vikings Sign up for Minnesota Vikings news and complete team coverage.

As the #Vikings arrange their front office with Rob Brzezinski running the show, I took a closer look at their GM search timeline and what it means for the offseason in this week’s Access Vikings newsletter.

You can sign up for the free newsletter here: link.email.startribune.com/join/7v1/sig....

Vikings hire Matt Thomas to help front office manage NFL salary cap With Rob Brzezinski running the Vikings’ free agency and draft strategy, Matt Thomas is getting support in his former job, overseeing the cap.

Story on the Vikings hiring Matt Thomas as a consultant to help manage their cap while Rob Brzezinski directs the front office: www.startribune.com/vikings-hire...

The #Vikings are hiring Matt Thomas, the longtime Seahawks VP of football operations, to join their front office through the NFL draft as a football admin consultant. Thomas will work with Emily Badis on Vikings salary cap issues while Rob Brzezinski is the team's point person for the front office.

Sign up for Access Vikings Sign up for Minnesota Vikings news and complete team coverage.

Got any #Vikings questions? Send them this way, and we’ll answer them in the Access Vikings newsletter or mailbag episode of the podcast (both out Friday).

You can subscribe to the free newsletter here: link.email.startribune.com/join/7v1/sig....

Who is Rob Brzezinski, the Vikings' new front-office leader? Rob Brzezinski, who has been with the Vikings since 1999, is tasked with leading the front office after General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah's firing.

Many know Rob Brzezinski as the #Vikings' cap wizard, working in relative anonymity to manage the team's money. Within the building, though, few are as highly regarded or well-liked as Brzezinski, who's played a variety of key roles in 27 years with the team. www.startribune.com/minnesota-vi...

Ben Goessling, Andrew Krammer and Emily Leiker discuss the Vikings' recent coaching additions for the 2026 season and chat with Seahawks quarterbacks coach Andrew Janocko, who coached with the… Vikings add three coaches, Seahawks QBs coach Andrew Janocko joins

New Access Vikings ep. w/ @bengoessling.bsky.social and @andrewkrammer.bsky.social kicking off Super Bowl week chatting with Seahawks quarterbacks coach (and former Vikings asst.) Andrew Janocko.

We also talk Vikings coaching hires.

Listen wherever you get your pods or watch: youtu.be/9wjsk_a6ML8

Analysis: Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s firing as Vikings GM rooted in frustration over the draft Restocking the roster with young talent was one of the two mandates asked of him when he was hired, but four years later the team remains in desperate need of help.

Kwesi Adofo-Mensah had two mandates when he became #Vikings GM: Fix the team’s salary cap picture and refresh the roster. The Vikings’ draft misfires meant they couldn’t fulfill those mandates, leading to Adofo-Mensah’s firing this week: www.startribune.com/minnesota-vi...

Smith, in particular, is an interesting hire; he'd played a big role in Mike McDaniel's run game in Miami, and will have a key voice in the Vikings' run game. He's coached OL and TEs, and will speak into some of the Vikings' scheme and technique design.

The Vikings made four moves for their coaching staff on Saturday, hiring former Dolphins OC Frank Smith as assistant head coach while promoting Keith Carter to the OL coach job.

On defense, they hired Ryan Nielsen as their DL coach and brought in Gerald Alexander to replace Daronte Jones.

🚨 Emergency Access Vikings episode talking about Kwesi Adofo-Mensah's firing with @bengoessling.bsky.social and @andrewkrammer.bsky.social is live now wherever you listen to your podcasts and on YouTube. 🚨

youtu.be/7humsJNHTMg

They'll approach this search that way, but "if something comes up and we want to be nimble," they'll consider it.

Vikings co-owner Mark Wilf said the team will conduct a "thorough search" for Kwesi Adofo-Mensah's replacement. The Wilfs lean toward "a traditional role where the GM is the decision maker, with extremely heavy input from the head coach and the coaching staff," Wilf said.

Rob Brzezinski will provide some stability for now, but it's another major change for the front office. Assistant GM Ryan Grigson's future could be in doubt, and it's fair to wonder if a new GM will trigger a larger series of moves.

There had been tension in the Vikings organization over the past couple years, particularly as the team's drafts had failed to produce consistent starters. But Kwesi Adofo-Mensah had been down at the Senior Bowl this week, as the Vikings had deliberated about what to do.

New Access Vikings ep. with @bengoessling.bsky.social and @andrewkrammer.bsky.social is out now.

More coaching carousel chatter, plus discussing the Super Bowl QB matchup between two Vikings "What ifs" in Sam Darnold and Drake Maye.

Listen wherever you get your pods or watch: youtu.be/ytc2xoKlN3g

I mention Maye because they made an offer to get him. Even if it didn’t happen, it’s who they wanted and tried to get. Just adds a level of what-could-have-been intrigue to the whole thing. They’ve got a pretty good feel for the position, it seems; the irony is, the outcome will hinge on McCarthy.

I guess I’d also look at it to say that O’Connell’s read on quarterbacks has generally been pretty good. Doesn’t mean he will bat 100%, but he’s been right more often than not. Could make it especially cruel if McCarthy turns out to be a miss, but there’s a reason to think he can identify a QB.

Yeah, if this provides a little levity, I’m happy to help.

Yeah, the offer (which was three firsts and a pick swap) would have had to be even bigger to get the Patriots to move. My point is, after they’d signed Darnold that March, they tried to shoot their shot for Maye.

They were going to trade the two 2024 firsts, a 2025 first and something else (a pick swap, I believe). Would’ve taken an even bigger ransom to get the Patriots to deal the pick.

Two years ago, Sam Darnold and Drake Maye could have been in the same #Vikings QB room. Instead, they’ll face each other in Super Bowl 60.

Jones and Mike Siravo would be the top internal candidates. I could see Jonathan Gannon if they didn’t go internal.

I would think so, yes.

Brian Flores signed a contract extension to return as the #Vikings’ defensive coordinator. If he doesn’t receive a head coaching job, he’ll return to Minnesota.

A “Notice of Termination of Prosecution” has been added to the Hillsborough County case file for Jordan Addison’s Florida arrest Jan. 12, indicating that charges are dismissed against the Vikings WR as of Jan. 20.

Vikings move on from OL coach Kuper after tumultuous season for position group The Vikings played more than 20 different O-line combinations as injuries racked the starting five.

Story from @emleiker.bsky.social on the #Vikings’ decision not to bring back Chris Kuper: www.startribune.com/vikings-move...

The #Vikings will have a new offensive line coach next year: the team said Chris Kuper will not be retained after his contract expired.

Kuper had been with the Vikings since 2022; the team said its search for a replacement is underway.