The Minnesota Vikings made headlines last week when they parted ways with general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. While there are surely football reasons behind the move-roster decisions, draft results, team performance-what’s come out in the days since his dismissal has raised more questions than answers, especially around the timing and tone of certain details being made public.
One of those details? Adofo-Mensah reportedly worked remotely for two weeks during the 2023 training camp to take paternity leave following the birth of his first child.
According to reporting by Diana Russini and Alec Lewis, the Vikings were “publicly supportive” of his decision at the time. But the fact that this information surfaced only after his firing has sparked a bit of a firestorm.
NFL Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe didn’t hold back on his Nightcap podcast, questioning why this particular detail-now over a year old-was being brought to light just days after Adofo-Mensah was let go.
“Now this happened in 2023,” Sharpe said. “Why didn’t you mention this in 2024? Why are you trying to salt the man up and make him look bad now that you done fired him?”
Sharpe, as only he can, laid it out plainly: Adofo-Mensah wasn’t calling plays, throwing passes, or lining up on defense. He was an executive, not a player.
And during training camp, a general manager’s physical presence-while helpful-isn’t always essential. In an era where remote work is more common than ever, especially for front office roles, being accessible by phone or video call can often be enough to keep things running.
More importantly, Sharpe pointed out the human side of the story. This was Adofo-Mensah’s first child, and his wife reportedly had a difficult pregnancy.
“Hell, they lucky he didn’t take the whole damn year,” Sharpe said. And honestly, who could blame him if he had?
The bigger issue here isn’t whether Adofo-Mensah took time off-he did, and the team supported him. The issue is why this information is being included in the narrative now. If it wasn’t relevant enough to report in 2023, or even in 2024, what changed?
That’s the question that’s hanging in the air. Was this detail included to provide context? Or was it meant to subtly cast doubt on Adofo-Mensah’s commitment or leadership?
Russini later clarified on social media that the Vikings had supported Adofo-Mensah “through the entire process and did not hold it against him in any way.” That clarification came quickly, and it felt like damage control-an attempt to make sure the organization wasn’t seen as throwing its former GM under the bus on his way out the door.
Whether the timing of the report was coincidental or calculated, it’s clear that the inclusion of Adofo-Mensah’s paternity leave in the immediate aftermath of his dismissal struck a nerve. It’s a reminder that NFL front offices aren’t just about X’s and O’s-they’re about people. And when personal moments get dragged into the professional spotlight, especially after someone’s been shown the door, it’s fair to ask what the real motive is.
For now, the Vikings move forward in search of their next general manager. But the way this chapter ended-with old personal details resurfacing at a sensitive moment-leaves a lingering aftertaste. Not because of what Adofo-Mensah did, but because of when and how it was brought up.