The Minnesota Vikings sent shockwaves through the NFL on Friday by firing general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, just eight months after granting him a multi-year contract extension.
The decision followed a 9-8 season in which a roster – widely considered to be playoff-caliber – fell short of the postseason.
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That was despite closing the year on a five-game winning streak under head coach Kevin McConnell, a streak that briefly reignited optimism inside the organization.
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While the move was publicly framed as a broad leadership reset, the timing and surrounding reporting point to a deeper internal conflict, most notably over the team’s long-term quarterback plan.
The deep issues that led to Adofo-Mensah exit
Multiple reports indicate that O’Connell emerged as the clear power winner, with the organization now aligned more closely with his vision heading into the 2026 season.
In a joint statement, co-owners Mark Wilf and Zygi Wilf thanked Kwesi Adofo-Mensah for his “contributions and commitment” over four years, but emphasized that it was in the team’s best interest “to move forward with new leadership of our football operations.”
The phrasing suggested appreciation, yet underscored a definitive break from the front-office direction that had guided the franchise since 2022.
Executive vice president of football operations Rob Brzezinski will oversee the front office through the 2026 NFL Draft, after which the Vikings plan to hire a full-time replacement.
On paper, Adofo-Mensah‘s tenure featured tangible success. The team compiled a 43-25 record, reached the playoffs twice, and produced a 14-3 campaign in 2024 that briefly positioned Minnesota among the league’s elite.
However, a deeper examination painted a less flattering picture. CBS Sports reported that a shaky draft record, a salary cap situation nearly $49 million over the limit, and mounting concerns over quarterback management ultimately outweighed the win-loss totals.
Those issues became more pronounced as internal disagreements surfaced regarding the pace and direction of the offense.
After that 14-3 season, the Vikings allowed Sam Darnold to leave, fully committing to 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy.
However, McCarthy missed his rookie year with a knee injury and then struggled through his first season as a starter, a development that intensified scrutiny of the succession plan.
A philosophical divide between Adofo-Mensah and O’Connell arose over whether the roster was ready to be handed to a young quarterback so quickly, and the pair couldn’t see eye to eye.
Statistically, McCarthy‘s first year as a starter reflected typical growing pains: a 57.6 percent completion rate, 1,632 passing yards, 11 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions across 10 games.
While the team went 6-4 in those starts, much of that success was credited to an elite defense rather than offensive consistency.
The ill-fated McCarthy-Darnold decision
Pro Football TalkMike Florio framed the firing as a direct consequence of that internal divide, saying: “This was rooted in, if not driven by, the ill-fated QB decision of 2025. This tells us Kwesi Adofo-Mensah wanted what they got.
“J.J. McCarthy with journeyman backups and that O’Connell was cautioning against it. He was the guy saying this isn’t going to work.”
Florio added that “as they said no to Sam Darnold, no to Daniel Jones, no to Aaron Rodgers, and rode with a guy who just wasn’t ready,” the consequences became clearer once Darnold led the Seattle Seahawks to Super Bowl 60.
“Now with Sam Darnold heading to the Super Bowl, is it a coincidence that after the Seahawks won the NFC Championship, that’s when Kwesi Adofo-Mensah was fired. Maybe it is, maybe it isn’t,” he added.
With the general manager search delayed until after the draft, both national and local coverage now view O’Connell as the central decision-maker in Minnesota.
His 43-25 record and two playoff appearances provide a strong foundation, but the spotlight now rests squarely on the head coach to deliver postseason success and prove that his vision for managing McCarthy can turn the franchise into a true contender.
