Vikings Shock NFL by Firing GM Adofo-Mensah After Four Seasons

The Minnesota Vikings have fired general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah after four seasons, the team announced Friday. The decision marks a dramatic reversal for the organization, which extended Adofo-Mensah's contract just eight months ago following a successful 2024 campaign.

The firing comes after the Vikings finished the 2025 season with a 9-8 record and missed the playoffs entirely. The team's struggles this year stand in sharp contrast to their 14-3 record in 2024, when Adofo-Mensah's work building the roster earned widespread praise around the league.

Executive Vice President of Football Operations Rob Brzezinski will take over day-to-day operations through the 2026 NFL Draft in April. The Vikings plan to conduct a full search for a new general manager after the draft concludes.

Background

Adofo-Mensah arrived in Minnesota in 2022 and quickly established himself as a key figure in the organization's front office. Over his four seasons, the Vikings compiled a 43-25 record and made the playoffs twice, in 2022 and 2024. The 2024 season was particularly impressive, with the team finishing with one of the best records in the NFC.

That success led ownership to believe Adofo-Mensah was the right person to lead the team forward. In May 2025, after months of negotiations, the Vikings signed him to a multi-year contract extension. At the time, the decision appeared to signal confidence in his direction for the franchise.

"Following our annual end-of-season organizational meetings over the last several weeks and after careful consideration, we have decided it is in the best interest of the team to move forward with new leadership of our football operations," co-owners Mark and Zygi Wilf said in a statement.

Key Details

The Quarterback Decision

One of the most consequential decisions made under Adofo-Mensah's leadership was the choice to move forward with 2024 first-round quarterback J.J. McCarthy rather than re-sign veteran Sam Darnold. Darnold had performed well in 2024 after joining the Vikings late in the season, but the organization opted to give McCarthy the starting job on a rookie contract heading into 2025.

The decision proved catastrophic. McCarthy struggled significantly in his first full season, posting one of the worst rookie campaigns by a quarterback in NFL history. Meanwhile, Darnold thrived elsewhere. He joined the Seattle Seahawks and led them to Super Bowl LX, where they are currently favored to win the championship against the New England Patriots.

The contrast between McCarthy's failure and Darnold's success appears to have weighed heavily on ownership's decision to make a change.

Draft Performance Issues

Adofo-Mensah's draft record was another major factor in his firing. The 2022 draft class, his first with the team, was widely considered a disaster. Of the players selected in that draft, only two remained with the Vikings heading into 2025: fifth-round running back Ty Chandler and sixth-round wide receiver Jalen Nailor.

The draft classes that followed were not significantly better, creating ongoing concerns about the organization's ability to build through the draft. With limited salary cap flexibility and a struggling roster, the team's front office appeared to be in a difficult position heading into 2026.

What This Means

The Vikings now face the challenge of finding a new general manager late in the offseason. Other teams, including the Atlanta Falcons and Miami Dolphins, have already completed their general manager searches and made hires. The Vikings will be operating from a disadvantaged position as they look to fill the role.

Rob Brzezinski, known for his expertise in salary cap management, will guide the team through the draft process. His task will be to stabilize the organization while the search for a permanent general manager takes place.

The Vikings compete in the highly competitive NFC North alongside the Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, and Green Bay Packers. All three division rivals have teams with playoff aspirations for the 2026 season, putting pressure on Minnesota to make the right decision with their next hire.

Adofo-Mensah's firing represents one of the most surprising moves of the offseason. The decision to let him go just months after extending his contract signals that ownership felt the team was not headed in the right direction, despite the optimism that surrounded the organization after the 2024 season.