Full Breakdown
Vikings Bring Former Bears GM Ryan Pace Onboard as Football Advisor
6/17/2026, 10:59:06 PM
Front Office Overhaul Under New GM Nolan Teasley
The Minnesota Vikings have entered a second phase of their offseason restructuring, adding veteran expertise to a front office led by newly hired general manager Nolan Teasley. Teasley, 42, arrived from the Seattle Seahawks after 12 seasons, including three as assistant GM for the 2023-25 Super Bowl-champion squad. The Vikings dismissed former GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah on Jan. 30 and placed long-time executive Rob Brzezinski in charge of football operations during the search. Ownership, represented by brothers Zygi and Mark Wilf, has given Teasley authority to reshape personnel staff while both he and head coach Kevin O’Connell report directly to the owners.
Key Personnel Additions
Following Teasley’s arrival, the Vikings announced hires:
- Ryan Pace – former Bears GM (2015-21) and recent Atlanta Falcons VP of football operations, joining as a football advisor.
- Azzaam Kapadia – assistant director of pro scouting, former Seattle pro scout.
- Andrew Healy – former Browns analytics executive, now assistant GM.
- Trent Kirchner – assistant GM, former Seattle staff.
- Ryan Grigson – retained as assistant GM with new title.
These moves reinforce Teasley’s intent to blend scouting, analytics, and football-operations insight.
Pace’s Track Record and Performance Metrics
During his six-year tenure with Chicago, Pace oversaw a 48-65 record and guided the Bears to two playoff appearances (2018, 2020). Notable draft selections under his leadership include Leonard Floyd, Cody Whitehair, Eddie Jackson, Roquan Smith, David Montgomery, Jaylon Johnson, and Darnell Mooney. Conversely, his tenure is often critiqued for quarterback decisions, notably the selections of Mitch Trubisky (2017) and Justin Fields (2021), which did not yield sustained success.
Official Statements from Ownership
Vikings co-owner Mark Wilf told reporters that Teasley and O’Connell will both report directly to ownership, with Teasley holding final authority over the 53-man roster. The Wilf brothers have emphasized that the new hires are intended to provide “GM-level” counsel without altering the existing organizational hierarchy.
Criticism of Pace’s Past Tenure
Analysts point to Pace’s “undoing” in mismanaging the quarterback position, a factor that contributed to Chicago’s 6-11 finish in 2021 and his subsequent dismissal. The Bears’ overall losing record under his stewardship also fuels skepticism about his ability to translate past drafting successes into roster construction for Minnesota.
Conflicting Details and Gaps
Sources differ on Pace’s exact title with the Falcons: one describes him as “vice president of football operations and player personnel” for the 2024-25 season, while another labels him a “personnel executive.” Additionally, the timeline of his departure from Atlanta is reported as “let go in February” without a specific year. No direct comments from Pace himself have been released, leaving his personal perspective on the new role undocumented.
Verbatim Quote
> “GM-level sounding board.” — ESPN’s Kevin Seifert
What’s Next
The Vikings will integrate the new advisors during the upcoming NFL Draft and free-agency period, with Teasley expected to leverage the combined scouting and analytics expertise to shape roster decisions for the 2026 season.
