EAGAN, Minn. — The Vikings have added an experienced and respected voice to their front office.
Minnesota announced Wednesday that it has added Ryan Grigson in a senior personnel role. It is the first move made by new Vikings General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah.
Grigson, 49, has been in the NFL in various roles since 1999.
Here are five things to know about the newest member of Minnesota's front office.
1. Former Colts general manager
Grigson was the general manager of the Indianapolis Colts for five seasons (2012-2016).
Grigson inherited a team that went 2-14 in 2011 and took quarterback Andrew Luck with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft.
The Colts went 11-5 in each of Grigson's first three seasons before going 8-8 in his fourth and fifth seasons in Indianapolis. He was let go following the 2016 season.
Grigson was the 2012 Sporting News NFL Executive of the Year, and he was also named by the Pro Football Writers of America as the NFL Executive of the Year in 2012.
Overall, the Colts went 49-31 in his five seasons, winning a pair of AFC South titles and making the playoffs three times.
2. Familiar with Adofo-Mensah
Adofo-Mensah is still in his first month on the job as Minnesota's new GM. He spent the past two seasons in Cleveland as the Vice President of Football Operations.
Grigson also worked with the Browns in 2020 and 2021 as a senior football advisor to Browns GM Andrew Berry.
According to the Browns 2021 media guide, Grigson was tasked with assisting "Berry and the rest of the senior football staff to contribute to all roster and strategic football decisions. Additionally, Grigson continues to provide valuable counsel and trusted insight to Berry as a second-year general manager."
3. Other NFL stops
Grigson broke into the league in 1999 as a national scout with the Rams. He spent two seasons (1999-00) in that role before spending three seasons (2001-03) as an area scout. Grigson has a coveted ring, as the Rams won Super Bowl XXXIV over the Titans.
Grigson joined the Eagles in 2004, spending eight total seasons with Philadelphia. He spent the bulk of his Eagles career as the western regional scout and was later the director of college scouting. His final two seasons were as the director of player personnel before he was hired by the Colts.
Grigson spent the 2017 season in Cleveland as a senior personnel executive before landing in Seattle for the 2018 and 2019 seasons. He then returned for his second stint with the Browns.
4. A former Boilermaker
Grigson, a native of East Chicago, Indiana, was an offensive lineman for Purdue from 1990-94. He also had a nose for the end zone in 1991, as he tallied four total yards on two catches … both of which were touchdowns.
Grigson tied for second on the 1991 Boilermakers with a pair of scores, but he didn't record another touchdown for the rest of his collegiate career.
He was a sixth-round pick by the Bengals (175th overall) in the 1995 NFL Draft but did not play a regular-season snap in his career. He was released during roster cuts at the end of training camp and signed with the Lions, but did not appear in a game.
Grigson played for the Toronto Argonauts in the Canadian Football League in 1997 but had to retire due to a back injury.
5. A family man … with a big birthday coming up
Grigson and his wife, Cynthia, have six children.
Grigson turns 50 years old on Feb. 23. He shares a birthday with former Vikings linebacker Ed McDaniel.
