Inside The Vikings

Vikings Hire Mike Parson To Replace Retired Dennis Ryan as Equipment Manager

Parson spent 13 years with the Texans and replaces Ryan, who retired after 47 seasons with the Vikings.
Will Ragatz|
Vikings Hire Mike Parson To Replace Retired Dennis Ryan as Equipment Manager
Vikings Hire Mike Parson To Replace Retired Dennis Ryan as Equipment Manager

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Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings have hired Mike Parson as their new director of equipment services, the team announced on Wednesday. Parson replaces Dennis Ryan, the legendary equipment manager who spent 47 years with the Vikings before retiring last week.

Parson was previously the Houston Texans' equipment manager from 2015-2020. He wasn't retained when Nick Caserio took over as the Texans' GM in 2021. When that happened, former Texans star J.J. Watt offered words of praise to Parson and his assistants on social media.

"Mike Parson and his entire equipment staff are incredible people who went above and beyond to help every player in the locker room every single day," Watt tweeted. "A great man and a great staff who shouldn’t be out of work for long. Anybody would be lucky to have them."

Parson had been with the Texans since 2008, first as an equipment services assistant.

Upon learning the news of Parson being Hired by the Vikings, Watt once again tweeted his support.

"Mike is one of the best in the business, Minnesota got a good one!" Watt said. "I’ve heard nothing but great things about the Vikings facilities, the way they treat their players and staff, etc. Easily one of the best stadiums in the league too. Happy to see my guy back in business!"

Ryan's retirement prompted an outpouring of praise for current and former Vikings players who had grown close with him over the years. Everyone had very positive things to say about Ryan, who had been with the organization since 1975 and only ever missed one game (due to COVID protocols in 2021) during that span.

In 1996 and 2017, Ryan received the Whitey Zimmerman Award as the NFL's top equipment manager. This feature story on Ryan from the Vikings' official website is excellent.

Parson has big shoes to fill, but he seems like a strong hire for the Vikings.

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Will Ragatz
WILL RAGATZ

Will Ragatz is a senior writer for Vikings On SI, who also covers the Twins, Timberwolves, Gophers, and other Minnesota teams. He is a credentialed Minnesota Vikings beat reporter, covering the team extensively at practices, games and throughout the NFL draft and free agency period. Ragatz attended Northwestern University, where he studied at the prestigious Medill School of Journalism. During his time as a student, he covered Northwestern Wildcats football and basketball for SB Nation’s Inside NU, eventually serving as co-editor-in-chief in his junior year. In the fall of 2018, Will interned in Sports Illustrated’s newsroom in New York City, where he wrote articles on Major League Baseball, college football, and college basketball for SI.com.

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