Paton previously served as the assistant general manager and vice president of player personnel for the Minnesota Vikings and served with the Vikings in various executive roles for 14 seasons.
Paton began his NFL career as a scout for the Chicago Bears before serving as the director of pro personnel for the Miami Dolphins from 2001 to 2006 and joining the Vikings in 2007.
[2] A native of La Cañada Flintridge, California,[3] Paton played quarterback at Loyola High School (Los Angeles), and was a four-year letter winner at defensive back for the UCLA Bruins from 1988 to 1991, being a part of a pair of Bruin bowl teams.
In 2007, Paton was hired as the director of player personnel for the Minnesota Vikings, reuniting with the Vikings vice president of player personnel, Rick Spielman, who worked with Paton in Miami and Chicago.
[5][6] The son of a high school football coach,[7] Paton is married to Barbara.