Former Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah was just offered a job by the San Francisco 49ers. It looks like he’ll have a role in the personnel department, where he spent 6 seasons in the 2010’s.
The head coach he helped hire in Minnesota, Kevin O’Connell, now looks to assume more personnel power with the Vikings. It feels like a hot seat year for the fifth year head coach, who could be searching for a job around this time next year.
O’Connell was recently asked about his thoughts on Adofo-Mensah, and he wasn’t afraid to open up.
Vikings HC Kevin O’Connell Opens Up About Relationship with Kwesi Adofo-Mensah
GettyGREEN BAY, WISCONSIN – SEPTEMBER 29: Head coach Kevin O’Connell and general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah of the Minnesota Vikings embrace prior to a game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on September 29, 2024 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
O’Connell was asked about his relationship with the former Vikings GM by the media. He had some choice words, per ESPN’s Kevin Seifert on X.
“Kevin O’Connell on his relationship with Kwesi Adofo-Mensah: ‘Was and will always continue to be strong. Any kind of thoughts or noise to the contrary of that is not accurate in any way, shape or form.'”
These comments are quite telling. Many assumed that the relationship became fractured between the two, and that the Vikings took O’Connell’s side. While they obviously did stick with O’Connell, the relationship between the coach and former GM is fine, by all accounts.
Of course, neither of these men are going to come out and say it’s not fine. However, there would be more reading between the lines to be done if that were the case.
And so, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is now a thing of the past for these Vikings. They look to roll forward with interim GM Rob Brzeznski, and will hire a new GM after the draft.
Former Minnesota General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah Signs With 49ers
GettyINDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – FEBRUARY 25: General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah of the Minnesota Vikings speaks to the media during the NFL Scouting Combine at the Indiana Convention Center on February 25, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
While speaking with reporters at the NFL Combine, 49ers GM John Lynch broke the news.
The report comes from ESPN 49ers reporter Nick Wagoner on X.
“#49ers GM John Lynch says former Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is back in the fold in the personnel department. He’s already around and will get finality in terms of title, etc., after draft.”
David Lombardi of The SF Standard provided more context on the 49ers’ acquisition of Adofo-Mensah.
“The 49ers are bringing back former Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, who called John Lynch right after Minnesota let him go. He’ll be a personnel executive for SF and will bring his analytics-rooted background back to the building.”
This will be his second stint with the 49ers organization. Adofo-Mensah served as their Manager of Football and Research Development from 2013 to 2016. He was then promoted to Director of Football and Research Development in 2017, and held the role until 2019.
The Cleveland Browns offered him a position as the Vice President of Football Operations in 2020. Adofo-Mensah held that role through 2021. He would then be hired by the Minnesota Vikings as General Manager in 2022.
He was relieved of that role on January 30th, 2026.
Vikings’ Kevin O’Connell Doesn’t Hold Back on Kwesi Adofo-Mensah