Ben Goessling

Emily’s had a great week at the combine, and she did a really nice job with this. Spend some time with it (and give her a follow if you haven’t already!).

Really excited to win an
@APSE_sportmedia
award in the Explanatory category for my story from last September on the industry behind developing young QBs.

Put a ton of work into that one, with lots of help and insight from a wide range of people. startribune.com/minnesota-vi...

New Access Vikings newsletter arrives today, full of tidbits that @emleiker.bsky.social and I picked up at the NFL combine this week.

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

Ben Goessling and Emily Leiker join Andrew Krammer from Indianapolis, where the annual NFL Scouting Combine features not just Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, but also members of the Vikings' ownership… Vikings takeaways from the NFL Scouting Combine

Full-length Access Vikings ep. w/ @andrewkrammer.bsky.social back in the host position to get all of the NFL Combine news, notes, etc. out of @bengoessling.bsky.social and me.

Which QB's name we've been surprised by, GM thoughts and more.

Listen wherever or watch: youtu.be/AM2Z_QwMhSA

Ben Goessling and Emily Leiker discuss how interim GM Rob Brzezinski described his draft philosophy, and what the Vikings view as their needs in the 2026 NFL Draft. Plus, they go over podium… NFL Combine Day 2: What do the Vikings view as their draft needs? Plus Gophers' Deven Eastern

Today's mini Access Vikings ep w/ @bengoessling.bsky.social covers what we heard from Rob Brzezinski yesterday about the Vikings' draft needs, analysis shared by Daniel Jeremiah at a podium session today and talk of Gophers D-line prospect Deven Eastern.

Only on YT: youtu.be/adqBZVAhDWk

Ben Goessling and Emily Leiker discuss three of the biggest talking points to come out of media sessions with Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell and interim ... NFL Combine Day 1: Vikings "exploring all possibilities" at QB; Rob Brzezinski speaks

Mini Access Vikings pod w/ @bengoessling.bsky.social here in Indy at the NFL Combine chatting 3 of the bigger talking points during media availability with Kevin O’Connell and Rob Brzezinski.

We lead with QBs 👀

Only on YT: m.youtube.com/watch?v=BspN...

Vikings “exploring all possibilities” at QB at NFL scouting combine Rob Brzezinski and Kevin O'Connell indicated the Vikings are exploring their quarterback options after J.J. McCarthy's first season as the starter.

On the first day of the combine, the #Vikings made clear they're open to all possibilities at QB. Kevin O’Connell said "a lot of" his feelings about J.J. McCarthy "are still the same" as when the team drafted him, but the "timeline is in a different place:" www.startribune.com/vikings-kevi...

The #Vikings’ full coaching staff for 2026. Of note: Josh McCown gets an offensive passing game coordinator role, while Dalmin Gibson moves from the special teams staff to the assistant LB coach role.

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.