The Minnesota Vikings made a stunning front-office shakeup this week, parting ways with general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah in a move that caught much of the league off guard. Just last offseason, the team extended Adofo-Mensah’s contract, and as of this week, he was still on the ground at the Senior Bowl, actively scouting for the upcoming draft.
Yet despite that, ownership decided it was time for a change. Longtime executive Rob Brzezinski will oversee operations through the draft, with a full-time GM hire expected afterward.
The timing has raised eyebrows. Why now?
Why not make the move right after the season, as they did with former GM Rick Spielman? But context matters here.
When Adofo-Mensah stepped in for Spielman, he retained the existing scouting department for his first draft-a group that’s been under fire for underwhelming returns. If ownership had pulled the plug earlier this offseason, a new GM would’ve had little time to overhaul the scouting staff and install his own people.
So while the move feels abrupt, the timing might not be as puzzling as it seems.
What’s more intriguing is the dynamic between Adofo-Mensah and head coach Kevin O’Connell. On the surface, the two appeared to be closely aligned-after all, Adofo-Mensah hired O’Connell, and the pair seemed to be building the roster in tandem.
O’Connell even received a contract extension before the GM, a move that raised some eyebrows but made sense given rumors that other teams were eyeing him. Still, the split indicates the partnership wasn’t as seamless as it looked.
There’s also the quarterback situation, which seems to be at the heart of ownership’s frustration. While the Vikings missed the playoffs, former Minnesota QB Sam Darnold is preparing to start in the Super Bowl.
That contrast is hard to ignore. O’Connell has earned praise for his work with quarterbacks, so you’d think he had significant input on the position.
But the decision to fire the GM-not the coach-casts some doubt on who was truly calling the shots under center.
Regardless, the move puts O’Connell squarely in the spotlight. When a new GM comes in, it’s common for them to want their own head coach.
That means O’Connell likely needs to deliver a playoff win in 2026 to solidify his standing. The leash just got a lot shorter.
As for Adofo-Mensah, the criticism of his draft record has been consistent-and not without merit. Some of his trades also drew scrutiny.
But let’s not ignore the full picture. He played a key role in assembling much of the current roster: the starting quarterback, top two running backs, second and third wideouts, tight ends, interior offensive linemen, defensive line, top edge rushers, linebackers, cornerbacks, and one of the team’s top safeties.
That’s a significant chunk of the core.
Still, the quarterback depth behind J.J. McCarthy may have been a breaking point.
The rookie starter had the team at 6-4 before injuries cut his season in half. Was that on Adofo-Mensah?
Maybe not directly. But the drop-off behind McCarthy was glaring, and in a league where backup QBs often make or break a season, that’s a tough pill to swallow.
The next front office will almost certainly prioritize the QB2 spot, especially with the cap situation being what it is.
That’s where Brzezinski comes in. He’s one of the most respected cap strategists in the NFL, and while the team is currently well over the salary cap, there’s confidence he’ll get things in order. The question is how much flexibility they’ll have to fill the roster holes-because there are plenty.
Injuries and looming cap casualties have left the Vikings with a long offseason to-do list. They’ll enter the draft with several key needs, and you could make a strong case for multiple positions with that first-round pick.
But the bigger challenge will be finding impact players beyond Day 1. That’s been a sore spot for this franchise for years now-five drafts running without much to show from the middle and late rounds.
If the Vikings want to get back to the postseason, they’ll need more than just a healthy McCarthy. They’ll need a strong draft, smart cap management, and a coaching staff that can get the most out of a reshaped roster. The pressure is on-and the clock is ticking in Minnesota.