The Minnesota Vikings are making headlines again - and not in the way fans were hoping. Just nine days before Super Bowl 60, the team made a stunning move, parting ways with general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. It’s an unusual time for a front office shakeup, especially with the offseason still taking shape, but the Vikings clearly felt it was time for a change at the top.
And that’s not the only big decision from the past year that’s under the microscope. According to a report from NFL insider Daniel Rotman, the Vikings were this close to trading quarterback JJ McCarthy to the Las Vegas Raiders last offseason. The deal never went through, reportedly due to internal disagreement within the organization about the 2024 draft strategy - specifically, whether McCarthy was the right pick in the first place.
Fast forward to now, and the Vikings are left wondering if they made the right call. While McCarthy was sidelined for his entire rookie season with a knee injury, he returned in 2025 and started 10 games.
The team went 6-4 in those starts, but McCarthy’s individual numbers left plenty to be desired: a 57.6% completion rate, 11 touchdowns, 12 interceptions, and a 72.6 passer rating. That’s not exactly the stat line you want from your potential franchise quarterback.
Meanwhile, Sam Darnold - the quarterback Minnesota passed on - signed a three-year deal with the Seattle Seahawks and has them on the doorstep of a Super Bowl title. It’s a tough pill to swallow for a team that had a chance to go in a different direction under center.
To add another layer of intrigue, the Vikings are reportedly preparing a blockbuster trade offer for Joe Burrow. That’s right - Minnesota might be aiming high in their search for quarterback stability. There’s also been some chatter about a potential reunion with Daniel Jones if he hits free agency, but that scenario seems more like a long shot than a serious possibility.
Still, all is not lost for McCarthy. He’s only entering his second full season, and he’s got a strong infrastructure around him.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell is still one of the brightest offensive minds in the league, and the Vikings boast a talented group of weapons in Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and TJ Hockenson. That’s a trio most young quarterbacks would dream of working with.
The pressure is on, no doubt. The front office is in transition, the fanbase is restless, and the quarterback room is under scrutiny.
But McCarthy’s story isn’t written yet. If he can stay healthy and take a step forward in 2026, there’s still a chance he becomes the guy Minnesota hoped for when they drafted him.
Right now, though, it’s hard not to look back and wonder what could’ve been - especially with Darnold thriving in Seattle and the Vikings still searching for answers.