Vikings Extend GM Rick Spielman Through 2020 Season
While player safety and new league rules headlined the annual NFL owners meetings in Phoenix on Tuesday, one piece of news caught the attention of the Minnesota Vikings fanbase.
First tweeted by Chad Graff of the Athletic and then later confirmed by Ben Goessling of the Star Tribune, the Vikings extended the contract of general manager Rick Spielman. The deal will keep Spielman in Minnesota through the 2020 season.
It sounds like Vikings GM Rick Spielman, like Mike Zimmer, received an extension through the 2020 season. Vikings ownership has their contracts “synced up,” Mark Wilf said.
— Chad Graff (@ChadGraff) March 26, 2019
Spielman, 56, has been the Vikings general manager since 2012. He was hired in 2006 as the Vice President of Player Personnel. Spielman previously worked for the Miami Dolphins, spending one season as team’s GM in 2004. He began his NFL career as a scout in 1990.
The deal further ties Spielman to head coach Mike Zimmer, who’s been the Vikings head coach since 2014. Both have two years remaining on their contracts, which happens to line up with the team’s starting quarterback.
Despite dishing out big money to Kirk Cousins in free agency last season, Spielman has been rather economical in constructing a roster loaded with homegrown talent. Predominately built through the draft, the team was built to reflect the personality of the head coach; defensively focused, fundamentally sound and explosive.
“Our No. 1 goal has always been to try to draft, develop and keep our own,” Spielman told Vikings.com.
Spielman has shown a commitment to winning without sacrificing the team’s future. The salary cap expertise of his staff, along with the front office’s ability to self-evaluate internal processes has put the team in a favorable position to be a contender for the foreseeable future.
At this point, the only thing holding the Spielman back from another extension could be assembling a formidable offensive line.