Getty Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes.
Drafting Patrick Mahomes may seem like a gimme, but back in 2017, he was seen as an extremely risky prospect at quarterback. It paid off for the Kansas City Chiefs, who won the NFL title in 2019 and are on the verge of a third consecutive Super Bowl appearance.
One of the biggest figures behind that franchise-altering decision interviewed for the Minnesota Vikings‘ general manager opening on Tuesday, January 18.
He made a good impression.
NFL insider Aaron Wilson reported that Chiefs executive director of player personnel Ryan Poles “had an impressive interview with Minnesota Vikings, per league source.”
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We have completed an interview with Chiefs Executive Director of Player Personnel Ryan Poles for our open General Manager position.
Working in the Chiefs’ front office for over a decade, Poles was the director of college scouting from 2016 to 2018, overlooking much of the research that led to Kansas City drafting Mahomes 10th overall in the 2017 draft.
Poles, 36, interviewed with the New York Giants on Wednesday and is scheduled to follow up with the Buffalo Bills for a second interview, per Wilson.
Background on Poles
A former offensive lineman at Boston College, Poles has climbed the NFL executive ranks mainly on the college scouting side.
His department of college scouting gambled on Mahomes, who was deemed anywhere from a second-round talent to a late third-day pick by executives around the league. Poles not only survived the firings of Scott Pioli and John Dorsey; he thrived, receiving promotions following the firings of both former Chiefs general managers.
Poles was a finalist for the Carolina Panthers general manager job in the 2021 offseason and is considered in the same realm of the Giants opening this season. Poles presents a similar scouting background the Vikings lost in 2021 when former vice president of player personnel George Paton accepted the Denver Broncos‘ general manager role.
“Poles oversees all aspects of the scouting of college football players across the country, assists in the pro process and prepares for free agency, in addition to assisting general manager Brett Veach with the coordination of the NFL Draft and overseeing the team’s out-of-town area scouts,” per Giants.com.
Poles’ background would prove helpful in rebuilding a Vikings defense through the draft while the team is still limited by its cap space.
“I know him. I know his character. I’ve sat and broken bread with him. I know how hard he is willing to work,” Former Giants defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka said of Poles, his college teammate, to Newsday. “I think he can do it. He’s well-equipped for the job. He is more than up to the challenge. He gets it, and I believe he would bring that to New York” Former Giants Mathias Kiwanuka on Poles, his college teammate.”
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Poles Could Hire on Former Vikings Offensive Mastermind
Most of the Vikings’ 2022 general manager candidates have been tied to a head coach interview as well.
However, Minnesota has yet to request an interview with current Chiefs offensive coordinator and former Vikings running backs/assistant coach Eric Bieniemy, one of the most highly touted head candidates over the past several seasons, KSTP’s Darren Wolfson reported.
That decision may be to respect Bieniemy’s time while the Chiefs chase their third Super Bowl appearance in as many seasons. However, Poles could be the thread needed to reel Bieniemy back to Minnesota as the Vikings’ new head coach.
Over the last three years, Bieniemy has interviewed with or received interview requests from nearly half of the NFL’s 32 franchises — 15 to be exact — but has come up short of a promotion.