After the Vikings made the belated decision to fire G.M. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah beyond the normal post-season pink-slip window, the Vikings did not embark on a search to hire a new General Manager.They are now.Owners Mark and Zygi Wilf have announced that the process has begun."With the conclusion of the 2026 NFL Draft, our search for the next general manager of the Minnesota Vikings is underway," the Wilfs said in a statement. "This will be a thorough and deliberate process led by ownership, with support from a small internal advisory committee of senior leaders. We have also engaged respected firm TurnkeyZRG to assist in conducting a wide-ranging search that includes experienced football executives, emerging candidates, and individuals with diverse professional backgrounds. "Our focus is to identify a decisive leader with a clear vision for team building, strong communication skills, and the ability to build alignment across an organization. Out of respect for all involved, we do not intend to publicly announce candidates and will provide further comment when the search is complete."Even if they won't be publicly announcing candidates, any requests made for permission to speak to employees currently working for other teams inevitably will be leaked to the media.Without a G.M., Vikings executive V.P. of football operations Rob Brzezinski led the draft and free agency process. He could potentially be a candidate to assume the G.M. role.The overriding question is whether coach Kevin O'Connell will emerge from the process with greater influence over the roster. That will make the specific terms of the G.M. job critical and it will potentially impact Minnesota's ability to interview and hire candidates under contract with other teams.Either way, the search has begun for a new General Manager in Minnesota. At a minimum, they'll need someone who will work well with O'Connell and the coaching staff. Alignment is the key. With it, a team has a chance. Without it, a team has no shot.