A message to the next coach? Wilfs believe the Vikings have the talent to win in 2022

Plus, Eric Kendricks had some strong words about the organization's 'fear-based' culture

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By Sam Ekstrom

ZOOM — Hours after relieving his 16-year general manager and eight-year head coach of their duties, co-owner Mark Wilf spoke about the biggest decisions in the history of his family’s ownership — not only the ones made Monday but the ones that are still to come.

Wilf spoke with reporters for about 20 minutes and took questions regarding the family’s decision to fire Mike Zimmer and Rick Spielman, how they’ll conduct the coach and GM search, and where quarterback Kirk Cousins fits into the plan.

Here are the biggest takeaways:

Not a rebuild

Wilf was clear when probed about his stance on a rebuild: It’s not happening, at least not in the sense that the Vikings are going to bottom out. Ownership has seemingly always pushed for competitive teams, which meshed well with Spielman’s desire to max out the salary cap and Zimmer’s win-at-all-costs mentality. They were a good match in that sense.

Now, by the sounds of it, the next regime will be expected to deliver fairly early in their tenure.

“I don’t want to get into a full rebuild conversation,” Wilf said. “Our point is we have high expectations for this football team. We believe we can be super competitive right here in 2022. This is not in that mode of a full rebuild. Again, we believe we have a strong, strong foundation here on the field and around the building. I wouldn’t classify it as that.”

Considering the Wilf’s belief that they have the talent to win in 2022, it’s easy to understand why 2021’s results would’ve led them to their eventual decision to fire the top two members of the organization.

Zimmer inherited a much different situation in 2014 when the Vikings were coming off a 5-10-1 season without many stalwarts on either side of the ball. The incoming coach will inherit an offense that will hardly lose any starters and a defense that needs a facelift but returns a number of talented veterans.

“Our roster, what we have here, is some great talent,” Wilf said. “This past season, a lot of close games, I think it was some kind of historical record the amount of one-score games we had. We know in our situation we’re close. But, again, we’re going to take a look at the entire situation with the coach and new GM, and we’re on the path to get that going. I do feel we can be a contender in 2022, and that’s the way we view it.”

If ownership expects contention in 2022, that sets the bar for the new regime a little higher, though the Wilfs would be doing the new hire a disservice if they took away their autonomy to build a roster.

Ultimately, the Wilfs don’t seem interested in chasing high draft picks, which is fair considering the talent Minnesota returns, particularly on the offensive side of the ball.