Vikings Dismiss GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah
The Minnesota Vikings have fired general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah after four seasons with the organization. Despite multiple winning seasons, the move follows a missed playoff year and growing concerns about roster construction and long-term planning.
The Minnesota Vikings have dismissed general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, ending a four-year tenure that began with high expectations and concludes after the team failed to reach the playoffs this season.
Team owners Zygi Wilf and Mark Wilf announced the decision Friday, stating that executive vice president of football operations Rob Brzezinski will oversee the front office through the 2026 NFL Draft. A formal search for a new general manager is expected to follow.
The move comes despite the Vikings posting three winning seasons during Adofo-Mensah’s tenure and compiling a 43–25 regular-season record since his hiring in 2022. Minnesota reached the postseason twice in that span but failed to advance beyond the wild-card round in either appearance.
Adofo-Mensah, who signed a multi-year contract extension less than a year ago, was hired alongside head coach Kevin O’Connell as part of a sweeping organizational reset. Ownership tasked him with modernizing the franchise’s decision-making structure and reshaping its internal culture following the departure of longtime general manager Rick Spielman.
While the Vikings remained competitive in the standings, questions persisted around roster construction and long-term planning. Minnesota’s draft classes under Adofo-Mensah produced limited on-field impact relative to league peers, and the team did not develop a Pro Bowl selection from those drafts during his tenure.
Quarterback decisions also loomed large. After a 14–3 season in 2024, Minnesota opted to move forward with former first-round pick J.J. McCarthy rather than re-sign veteran Sam Darnold, who later joined the Seattle Seahawks. McCarthy’s 2025 season was limited by injuries, while Darnold went on to earn Pro Bowl recognition with Seattle.
Adofo-Mensah brought an unconventional résumé to the role, becoming one of the NFL’s first general managers with a primary background in analytics rather than scouting or coaching. A former Princeton basketball player and commodities trader, he entered the league through football research roles with the San Francisco 49ers before advancing to an executive position with the Cleveland Browns.
In their statement, the Wilfs acknowledged Adofo-Mensah’s efforts while emphasizing the need for a new direction. Leadership changes at the top signal another transitional moment for a franchise balancing short-term competitiveness with long-term stability.
The Vikings now turn their focus to the offseason with Brzezinski guiding personnel decisions and the organization preparing for another pivotal chapter in its football operations.
More reporting on this developing story is forthcoming.