Great ownership goes a long way in helping coaches and players beat the competition.

Sports Business Journal glowingly profiled on Monday the efforts that Wilf brothers Mark and Zygi, along with their cousin Lenny, have made in 20 seasons as Vikings Owners. Powered by the Wilfs' vision for growth and love for the game, which was encouraged in their youth when they were enamored by the New York Giants from the bleachers at Yankee Stadium, the franchise has multiplied 10x in value since they took control.

In contrast to the older Wilf generation, Joseph and his brother, Harry, who raised a nationwide real estate empire from relative anonymity in New Jersey, the Wilfs at the Vikings helm are stakeholders in the most profitable sports league in the world, giving them abundant opportunity to make an impact.

SBJ's Ben Fischer wrote:

It's a platform for everything else they do – from developments in greater Minneapolis; to activity in new markets like Orlando, such as buying Orlando City SC and Orlando Pride; to making inroads in London, where the Vikings were acting as gridiron football exporters by teaching flag football and promoting their brand.

"It strengthened our family in terms of being part of something greater than ourselves," said Mark Wilf, who handles day-to-day Vikings leadership as team president. "It's just such a great joy to be part of this."

Since acquiring the team in 2005 the Wilfs have poured their resources into revitalizing the Vikings culture and ties with its fan base and former players. Creating the best venue in the NFL – and keeping the Vikings in Minnesota – was a huge step.

"The Wilfs tried harder than anybody to not leave Minnesota, that's the story," retired U.S. Bank CEO Richard Davis told Fischer. "Here are these guys who have been here at that point seven, eight years, they're now deeply invested in the community. They still live in Minnesota and New Jersey, but they just couldn't be more personally, keenly focused on not leaving the community."

Former Vikings Chief Operating Officer Kevin Warren, currently serving as president of the Chicago Bears, told Fischer the following:

"If we ever had X number of dollars that we weren't planning on, extra money in the budget, they never said don't spend it – they said, 'Great, this gives us an opportunity to give us a better fan experience, or a better environment for the players,' and that's something that really resonated with me."

The Wilfs are rightfully pleased with their progress as owners: They purchased the team for $600 million – the organization does nearly that in revenue each year; the TCO Performance Center is the NFL's gold-standard training facilities; the first two years of the NFLPA's report cards generated the Nos. 1 and 2 rankings for player-employee experiences; and the public bonds on U.S. Bank Stadium are all paid off.

There's one goal unchecked – a Super Bowl appearance and Lombardi Trophy.

"Early on the challenges were to get it to be a world-class organization, and facilities and culture were a huge part of that, and I think we've gotten to a very, very strong place," Mark Wilf told Fischer. "And now, to maintain that edge, we can't rest on any laurels, and we have to constantly look to improve."

The results so far this season are another indicator that the Wilf family is on the right track to bringing the winningest franchise without a Super Bowl win – .545 all-time mark – closer to the elusive Lombardi.

The Wilfs – Lenny, 77; Zygi, 74; and Mark, 62 – intend to hold the team in their family for multiple generations. Seven of the brothers' children are involved with the Vikings in some fashion. Zygi's son, Jonathan, is executive vice president of strategic planning and business initiatives. Mark's son, Steven, is executive vice president of innovation and strategy. Those two and Daniel, another of Mark's sons, all participated in the 2022 searches that brought aboard head coach Kevin O'Connell and general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah.

Four other next generation Wilfs serve on the Vikings Foundation board: Zygi's daughters, Stephanie Wilf Kahn and Elana Wilf Tanzman; Lenny's daughter, Halle Wilf Oshinsky; and Mark's daughter, Rachel Wilf.

"My kids, Mark's kids, my grandkids … We're doing the same thing our father did to us, to create a passion for us and our team," Zygi Wilf said. "It'll carry on through their lifetime and it will help them in every way, in any direction they want to go."

Buy, sell or stand pat?

The NFL trade deadline is approaching, this year falling on Nov. 5 at 3 p.m. (CT).

The Vikings on Tuesday were projected by The Athletic as 1 of 14 teams that should be in business of “buying.” Alec Lewis notes that seasons like this one in Minnesota don't come around often, therefore Vikings brass should entertain adding to the mix or fortifying depth if the opportunity presents itself.

The right opportunity. A player who is smart, tough and loves football.

Lewis outlines three important aspects the Vikings likely will consider as the deadline looms.

First, Minnesota is not loaded with 2025 draft picks (they currently have just three selections), so it'd probably have to dip into the future reserves. Second, a team is a delicate chemistry, and part of the Vikings success this season can be attributed to the current concoction. So adding someone to that could affect the dynamic. Third, the Vikings are loaded with future cap space, so it's not outside the realm of possibility that they could jumpstart forthcoming free agency by acquiring a big-name player and giving him a new contract.

The team already acquired from Houston running back Cam Akers and a conditional 2026 seventh-round draft pick in exchange for a conditional 2026 sixth-round selection. Akers fits the current vibes of the team – he's got familiarity of O'Connell's scheme, having won a Super Bowl together in Los Angeles, and the locker room, as a mid-season addition last year. Plus, he plays hard. He's a perfect type of "purchase."

Now how about Minnesota's division counterparts?

The Athletic proposes Chicago to stand pat because it owns three picks in the first two rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft that offer chances for serious investment in the trenches. Green Bay also was placed in that category, namely because it's built to contend with what it's got in house and traditionally isn't a big spender at the deadline. The Lions, like the Vikings, were listed as buyers, and may be in more of a hurry to add another body after Defensive Player of the Year candidate Aidan Hutchinson's devastating injury.

Here are the 12 other clubs with reasons to buy at the deadline according to The Athletic: Atlanta, Baltimore, Buffalo, Dallas, Kansas City, Los Angeles Chargers, New York Jets (the only team sorted with buyers and sellers potential), Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, San Francisco, Seattle and Tampa Bay.