The Minnesota Vikings made a bold decision on Friday morning to fire general manager, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah after four years at the helm of the organization.
The dismissal comes less than a day after Adofo-Mensah made comments reflecting on his and the organization’s decision to go with J.J. McCarthy over Sam Darnold.
And whilst owner, Mark Wilf stated there was no one specific reason for him deciding a change was needed at the top of the organization, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reports that there were broadly three main factors that lead to his firing.
Three Core Mistakes Cost Vikings GM His Job
Firstly, his poor track record in the NFL draft – which included multiple misses in both the first and second round over the course of his tenure.
“Misses in the NFL Draft played a large role in this decision. Only one of the 10 picks in Adofo-Mensah’s first draft became a full-time starter, and only two remain with the team.” Russini wrote on Friday.
Although the team did see players like kicker Will Reichard, receiver Jordan Addison and edge rusher Dallas Turner become quality players in the NFL, it was not enough to match the organization’s standards – per Russini.
Secondly, Adofo-Mensah had a free-agency period last March which, in hindsight, does not look favorably upon him.
“Meanwhile, Adofo-Mensah, 44, was unable to replicate the team’s 2024 free-agent success this season. Minnesota used a bevy of cap space on aging veterans: defensive tackle Javon Hargrave, defensive tackle Jonathan Allen, center Ryan Kelly and others.” Russini continued.
The Vikings’ offensive line also regressed in 2025, despite the team spending big on Kelly and Will Fries, whilst spending a first round pick on guard Donovan Jackson – all of whom disappointed this past season.
Kwesi Adofo-Mensah Failed to Bolster the QB Position
Finally, the Adofo-Mensah’s decisions at quarterback came back to haunt him – but according to Russini, not specifically about Darnold. The former VP in Cleveland failed to add one of Daniel Jones and Aaron Rodgers in the offseason.
“The team also failed to secure Daniel Jones as McCarthy’s backup, leading to the acquisition of Sam Howell, who struggled during training camp and was later traded. The Vikings also opted against signing future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers, who showed interest in playing for the team on a below-market-value salary, sources said.”
Rodgers went on to have a strong season with the Steelers, throwing for 3,322 yards, 24 touchdowns and 7 interceptions with a passer rating of 94.8. Hardly numbers comparable to his prime MVP years in Green Bay, but certainly far superior to the play of McCarthy or backup, Carson Wentz – especially considering the dearth of offensive talent surrounding the former Packers QB in Pittsburgh.
And the Jones miss looks even more egregious, looking back. The former Giant had easily his best year to date with the Indianapolis Colts, leading them to an 8-5 record with a 100.2 QB rating, before going down with a torn Achilles in Week 13, prematurely ending his season.
The reigns will now be turned over to Rob Brzezinski, who will take charge through the 2025 NFL Draft, as the search for the long-term replacement begins.
Vikings’ GM Firing Decision Came Down To Three Key Factors – Report