Detroit Lions assistant general manager Ray Agnew watches warmup ahead of the Washington Commanders game at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Md. on Sunday, November 9, 2025. Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The Minnesota Vikings are casting a wide net in their search for a new general manager, and the latest addition to their list sends a clear message.
Initially, the Vikings announced seven candidates for the role:
– Rob Brzezinski, Vikings interim general manager
– Terrance Gray, Buffalo Bills assistant general manager
– Chad Alexander, Los Angeles Chargers assistant general manager
– John McKay, Los Angeles Rams assistant general manager
– R.J. Gillan, San Francisco 49ers assistant general manager
– Dave Ziegler, Tennessee Titans assistant general manager
– Nolan Teasley, Seattle Seahawks assistant general manager
Now, three more names have been added to the interview list, offering a fresh perspective on the search.
The new candidates requested by the Vikings are:
– Ray Agnew, Detroit Lions assistant general manager
– Kyle Smith, Miami Dolphins assistant general manager
– Reed Burckhardt, Denver Broncos assistant general manager
Burckhardt’s inclusion is no surprise. The Vikings had seriously considered Denver Broncos general manager George Paton—who spent 14 years in Minnesota—but he signed an extension. Burckhardt, Paton’s No. 2, is a natural interview choice, particularly given that he himself spent 13 years with the Vikings.
Smith, who briefly attended Vikings training camp in 2006 as a wide receiver, later served as Atlanta Falcons’ Vice President of Player Personnel from 2021-2022 and was promoted to assistant general manager in 2023. He held that role for three years before the Falcons restructured their front office after the most recent season.
The most intriguing addition is Agnew. Over the past five years, he has been instrumental in transforming the Lions organization. He is the only one of the three who shares a direct connection with Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell. Both were with the Los Angeles Rams in 2020—O’Connell as offensive coordinator and Agnew as a front office executive—and that bond could tilt the search in his favor.
The interview process is already underway, and the Vikings are expected to move quickly to fill the position.