Jim Finks, former general manager of the...

Jim Finks, former general manager of the Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears, signed a three-year contract as president and general manager of the New Orleans Saints.

As part of his deal, he became a part owner. Neither his salary nor the size of his share of the team was announced.

While Finks was general manager at Minnesota, the Vikings went to four Super Bowls. Nineteen of the 22 Chicago Bears starters on this year’s Super Bowl team were acquired when Finks headed the front office there.

Finks, 58, fills some of the vacancies left on Nov. 25, when Bum Phillips resigned as coach and general manager, and owner Tom Benson fired Eddie Jones, the team’s president, and Pat Peppler, the director of player personnel.

Wade Phillips, defensive coordinator and Bum’s son, finished the final four games as interim coach. He managed to upset the Rams but lost the other three games, and the Saints finished the season 5-11.