The Minnesota Vikings have officially parted ways with general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, bringing an end to his four-year run with the team. The move came as a surprise to many around the league, especially considering Adofo-Mensah had signed a multi-year extension less than a year ago, in May 2025.
But in the wake of his dismissal, new details have emerged that paint a more complex picture of his tenure in Minnesota. According to a report, Adofo-Mensah took two weeks of paternity leave during training camp - a decision that reportedly sparked some raised eyebrows among rival executives and coaches across the NFL.
While the Vikings were publicly supportive of their GM’s time away - and sources indicate his decision to take leave did not directly factor into his firing - the reaction from around the league was a different story. Some viewed the extended absence during a crucial part of the offseason as unconventional, especially in a league where the grind rarely slows down.
Former Chargers defensive tackle Breiden Fehoko weighed in on social media, expressing his disbelief. “Yeah I’m not gonna lie you can’t do this,” he posted.
“NFL teams are usually cool about missing a day for the birth and such but that’s about it. Taking paternity leave as a GM is crazy man.”
To be clear, Adofo-Mensah wasn’t entirely off the grid - he reportedly continued to work remotely during his time away. But the optics of a general manager stepping back during one of the most pivotal periods of roster evaluation and team preparation didn’t sit well with some around the league.
Training camp is where depth charts begin to take shape, positional battles heat up, and front offices work closely with coaching staffs to make critical decisions. For a GM, it’s not just about watching practices - it’s about being in the building, in the conversations, and in the trenches with your football operations staff. Missing two weeks during that stretch, even for a deeply personal and understandable reason, was bound to draw attention.
Still, it’s important to note that the Vikings organization never publicly wavered in their support of Adofo-Mensah’s decision. And while the league’s culture has long been defined by its relentless pace and “next man up” mentality, conversations around work-life balance - even in the NFL - are evolving.
The timing of Adofo-Mensah’s firing may have raised questions, but based on what’s been reported, his paternity leave wasn’t the driving factor. The decision likely stemmed from a broader evaluation of the team’s direction and performance under his leadership.
In the end, the NFL is a results-driven business. And while Adofo-Mensah brought a unique, analytics-forward approach to the GM role, the Vikings are now turning the page - looking for a new voice to guide the franchise into its next chapter.