The Minnesota Vikings are heading into a pivotal offseason with a major change at the top of their front office. On Friday, the team fired General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah after four seasons, signaling a clear shift in direction as they look to recalibrate heading into 2026.
Owner Mark Wilf addressed the media shortly after the decision was announced, emphasizing that this wasn’t about one move or one bad season-it was about the full scope of Adofo-Mensah’s tenure. According to Wilf, the decision came after a comprehensive internal review and was made with the team’s long-term future in mind.
“It’s a body of work,” Wilf said. “It’s a cumulative set of decisions. It’s four years of where we’ve been, and we as ownership - and I know our fans feel it and our entire organization - feel we need to get to a better place.”
That “better place” starts with a quarterback room that’s still very much in flux. The Vikings made a bold bet last offseason by letting both Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones walk.
Darnold, now starting in the Super Bowl for Seattle, and Jones, who had the Colts leading the AFC South before an Achilles injury, were both passed over in favor of 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy.
McCarthy’s rookie campaign didn’t go as planned. He struggled with injuries and inconsistency, opening the door for veterans Carson Wentz and Max Brosmer to step in and start games during a 9-8 season that never quite found its rhythm. While Wilf wouldn’t pin Adofo-Mensah’s dismissal on any single decision, it’s hard to ignore how the quarterback situation played into the broader evaluation of the roster and front office performance.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell has already acknowledged the need to bring in competition for McCarthy this offseason, a clear sign that the team isn’t handing the job to the young signal-caller without a fight. That task now falls to Executive Vice President of Football Operations Rob Brzezinski, who will lead the personnel department through free agency and the draft.
Brzezinski is a longtime figure in the organization, known for his savvy cap management and deep institutional knowledge. But this will be a new kind of pressure. With the GM seat vacant and a roster that needs answers at quarterback and beyond, he’ll be tasked with steering the Vikings through one of their most consequential offseasons in recent memory.
Minnesota still has pieces to work with. The team finished just above .500 and showed flashes of potential throughout the year. But with ownership making it clear that status quo isn’t good enough, expect aggressive moves in the coming months - especially at the game’s most important position.
The message from the top is clear: the Vikings are aiming higher. And whoever takes over as the next GM will need to hit the ground running.