The Denver Broncos have built one of the most respected front offices in the NFL over the last few years. Now, one of the key figures inside that operation may be walking out the door and heading to the NFC North.

Reed Burckhart, the Broncos' assistant GM, has advanced to the second round of interviews for the vacant GM position with the Minnesota Vikings. According to Connor Byrne of ProFootballRumors.com, Burckhart is one of four remaining candidates still standing as Minnesota narrows its search. 

The competition is serious. Burckhart is joined by Terrance Gray of the Buffalo Bills, John McKay of the Los Angeles Rams, Nolan Teasley of the Seattle Seahawks, and Vikings interim GM Rob Brzezinski, who has been with the organization since 1999 and carries significant internal support. 

Burckhart is a Minnesota native who spent time in the Vikings' organization earlier in his career before working his way up the scouting ladder in Denver. Moreover, he was mentored directly by Broncos GM George Paton, widely regarded as one of the sharpest minds in the league when it comes to creative salary cap management and late-round draft value. 

The Broncos' recent track record, which includes a 14-win season and an AFC Championship Game appearance in 2025, is the strongest endorsement his resume could carry.

However, the knock on Burckhart is straightforward, as he has not been the man making the final calls. Contract decisions, personnel moves, draft night trades, all those have run through Paton. 

How Burckhart presents his own vision and separates himself from the system he was part of will likely determine his hiring. Whether the Vikings take a chance on him or play it safe with Brzezinski remains to be seen.

Why Do the Vikings Need a New GM?

The answer starts with their former GM, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, who was fired on January 30, 2026, after four seasons in charge. And the reasons for his removal were not subtle. His draft classes, particularly between 2022 and 2024, failed to produce the impact players a team with playoff ambitions needs. And the quarterback situation became impossible to defend.

The Vikings spent a first-round pick on J.J. McCarthy out of Michigan in 2024, relying heavily on him as their franchise answer. As per Ben Goessling from the Minnesota Star Tribune, it has not worked. Injuries have derailed him repeatedly, and when he has played, the performances have been inconsistent at best. 

Moreover, despite having a legitimate offensive mind in head coach Kevin O'Connell, the Vikings failed to win a single playoff game during Adofo-Mensah's tenure. That combination pointed directly at the front office. And eventually, ownership ran out of patience.

So for Burckhart, all that is left is round two. The Broncos may be about to lose one of their own to the rival franchise.

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Written by

Zaid Quraishi

Edited by

Zaid Quraishi