Minnesota Vikings Make Shocking Move, Part Ways With General Manager
The Minnesota Vikings fired general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah on Friday, just eight months after signing him to a multi-year contract extension. The decision came following the Vikings’ miss of the playoffs this season with a 9-8 record and marks a stunning reversal for the organization that had committed to keeping Adofo-Mensah through at least 2026.
Co-owners Mark and Zygi Wilf released a joint statement explaining the move: “Following our annual end-of-season organizational meetings over the last several weeks and after careful consideration, we have decided it is in the best interest of the team to move forward with new leadership of our football operations.”
Rob Brzezinski Assumes Interim Role
Rob Brzezinski, the Vikings’ Executive Vice President of Football Operations, will oversee Minnesota Vikings’ football operations through the 2026 NFL Draft in April. The VPs credited Brzezinski’s salary cap expertise and organizational knowledge for the interim appointment. A comprehensive search for the next general manager will begin after the draft concludes.
The timing of Adofo-Mensah’s firing shocked the NFL world. He was attending Senior Bowl practices in Mobile, Alabama, when the organization announced his dismissal, and had conducted a postseason press conference just weeks earlier.
Draft Record and QB Gamble Cited as Key Factors
Adofo-Mensah’s tenure with the Vikings was marked by significant struggles in the draft. During his four years as general manager, the Minnesota Vikings’ draft classes produced only 172 starts from drafted players—the second-fewest in the NFL. Only two players from his inaugural 2022 draft class remained with the team entering 2025: fifth-round running back Ty Chandler and sixth-round wide receiver Jalen Nailor.
The 2025 season proved particularly damaging. Adofo-Mensah’s decision to move forward with J.J. McCarthy as the starting quarterback on a rookie contract rather than retaining Sam Darnold backfired spectacularly. McCarthy endured one of the worst rookie seasons by a quarterback in NFL history, while Darnold led the Seattle Seahawks to the Super Bowl—a stark contrast that likely sealed the Vikings GM’s fate.
Strong Track Record Not Enough
Despite the firing, Adofo-Mensah oversaw three winning seasons in his four-year tenure, and the Vikings’ .632 winning percentage during that span ranked fifth-best in the NFL. The team made the playoffs twice, in 2022 and 2024, with the 2024 roster earning widespread praise for its construction. However, the Vikings went 0-2 in the postseason and failed to capitalize on their opportunities.
Adofo-Mensah was hired in January 2022 to overhaul the Vikings’ organizational culture and decision-making processes. The former analytics pioneer with the San Francisco 49ers and Cleveland Browns brought a unique background to the role—he never played or coached football but became the NFL’s first general manager with a background primarily in analytics.
Challenges Ahead for Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings now face the challenge of searching for a new general manager late in the offseason, after the Atlanta Falcons and Miami Dolphins have already completed their coaching and front-office searches. The next Vikings general manager must address quarterback needs and rebuild a roster while competing in a highly competitive NFC North against the Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, and Green Bay Packers.
