18 Facts About Rick Spielman

Richard Spielman was born on December 2,1962 and is an American football executive for the New York Jets.

Rick Spielman was the general manager of the Miami Dolphins in 2004 and the Minnesota Vikings from 2012 to 2022.

Rick Spielman is the older brother of Chris Rick Spielman, former Detroit Lions and Buffalo Bills linebacker.

Rick Spielman played linebacker at Southern Illinois University, earning first-team All-Gateway Conference honoree as a junior.

Rick Spielman was part of the 1983 NCAA Division I-AA national championship team as a redshirt freshman.

Rick Spielman began his NFL career as a scout with Detroit in 1990 and worked with the club in college scouting for five seasons before adding pro scouting duties in 1995 and 1996.

Rick Spielman moved to director of pro personnel for the Bears from 1997 to 1999 before joining the Dolphins in 2000 as vice president of player personnel.

Rick Spielman was promoted in 2002 to senior vice president of football operations and player personnel and eventually general manager in 2004.

Rick Spielman left the Dolphins during the 2005 offseason, later working at ESPN as an analyst.

On May 3,2000, Rick Spielman was hired to be vice president of player personnel for the Dolphins.

Rick Spielman had previously served the position of Bears' director of pro personnel with the Bears from 1997 to 1999, with two of those seasons having been coached by Dave Wannstedt, who was now the head coach of the Dolphins.

Rick Spielman was promoted to general manager after the 2003 season saw the team miss the playoffs for the 2nd straight year.

Rick Spielman assumed the Vikings' vice president of player personnel role on May 30,2006, replacing Fran Foley.

On January 3,2012, Rick Spielman was promoted to general manager of the Vikings.

In 2014, Rick Spielman was given the authority to make a head coaching change.

In 2012, Rick Spielman helped the team sign fullback Jerome Felton who made it to the Pro Bowl that same year and who was a major contributor to Adrian Peterson rushing for the second-highest amount of rushing yards in a season in NFL history.

In 2013, Rick Spielman traded WR Percy Harvin for the Seattle Seahawk's 2013 1st, 7th and 2014 3rd round draft picks.

In January 2024, Rick Spielman worked with the Washington Commanders as an advisor in a search that led to the hiring of general manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn.