EAGAN, Minn. — The Vikings on Thursday announced they have hired Matt Thomas as a football administration consultant to help the organization through a unique 2026 offseason.
Vikings Executive Vice President of Football Operations Rob Brzezinski, who has been noted for his work in the NFL's salary cap era, was selected last week by Vikings owners as the point person to lead collaborative operations between the personnel department and coaching staff through free agency and the draft after the team parted ways with General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah.
Thomas brings decades of NFL experience and will assist Brzezinski and Senior Manager of Football Administration Emily Badis through the 2026 NFL Draft.
Media members reacted to the hiring of Thomas on X:
Thomas is well-versed in the NFL's salary cap, experienced with important contract negotiations and consistently shuns personal recognition, despite having a key behind-the-scenes-role in Seattle's success for more than a decade until his retirement.
In a 2019 feature for The Athletic, Michael-Shawn Dugar made “an attempt” to introduce Thomas to Seahawks fans. While noting Thomas had "no interest" in being introduced as he prefers to stay behind-the-scenes, Dugar told the devout "12s" Thomas "may also be the organization's most important person you've never heard of."
Dugar did not directly quote Thomas, which is not unfamiliar to this writer when previously tasked with featuring a non-loquacious lineman, but the quotes he did obtain offered perspective from agents who had represented clients and Seahawks leaders who had been on the other side of the negotiation table.
Thomas, who spent 11 years with the Seahawks (2013-24) as Vice President of Football Operations, oversaw the team's salary cap and contract negotiations before retiring.
The time Thomas spent in the "Emerald City" followed working for the Browns (2010-12) and more than a decade with the Dolphins (1998-2009). Thomas and Brzezinski, who just completed his 33rd NFL season and 27th as a Viking, overlapped in Miami in 1998.
Thomas holds a degree from the University of Denver, as well as law degrees from the University of South Dakota School of Law and New York University School of Law.
The Vikings are preparing to attend the NFL Scouting Combine at the end of the month before adding players through free agency in March and the 2026 NFL Draft, which will be hosted by Pittsburgh April 23-25.
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