Former Vikings QB Off to Rocky Start in UFL
His debut didn’t quite go as planned.
Former Vikings QB Off to Rocky Start in UFL
That’s Kellen Mond, a former Minnesota Vikings quarterback, now the leader of the UFL’s San Antonio Brahmas.
Mond received the QB1 promotion earlier this month, and his team promptly lost its Week 1 matchup while Mond personally struggled.
Kellen Mond Flounders, Brahmas Lose
The Arlington Renegades pounded Mond’s Brahmas, winning the matchup 33-9, powered by 4 rushing touchdowns from De’Veon Smith and Kalen Ballage.
Mond didn’t do much, tabulating 17 completions on 31 passing attempts for 159 yards, no touchdowns, and no interceptions. He chipped in 19 rushing yards for good measure.
Heading into the matchup, Mond sounded rather optimistic last week.
“Truthfully, it hits you fast in the face. You have 14 practices to learn a system, and obviously a bunch of meeting times. You got a lot of guys on offense who have been in multiple systems, whether it be in the NFL or this league. Once you learn multiple systems, it becomes easier to learn more. I think a lot of us have grasped onto this offense really fast, and we’re only looking to add and continue to get better,” he told Pro Football Newsroom.
“That was my primary goal, to be a starter. Being able to go out and play well, and sustain that, it was done through leadership skills, you know, your command of the offense. Being able to still execute the offense and throw accurately, and run when needed to. It takes everything, and now you gotta go out and win games, and that’s what I’m looking forward to do.”
Mond will hope for a better outcome in Week 2.
Mond in Minnesota
The Vikings assessed Mond during 2022 training camp and preseason, leading to a trade involving Nick Mullens from the Las Vegas Raiders. The instant Mullens set foot in Eagan, Minnesota, he became the Vikings QB2, tabbing Mond as the odd man out.
Mond was selected by the Vikings’ former leadership regime in 2021 as a possible contingency plan for QB1 Kirk Cousins in the 2021 NFL Draft. Fans constantly squabbled about whether Cousins was actually a true franchise quarterback, so the addition of Mond was viewed as an exciting what-if. But the 3rd-Rounder didn’t pan out and has bounced around the NFL and UFL since departing Minnesota.
Aside from a few flashes of promise — mainly in the first preseason game of 2022 — Mond played miserably for the Vikings. Minnesota knew Mond was developmental and raw, however, he leaned heavily on the raw quality during his brief Minnesota tour.
The Vikings waived Mond on August 31st, 2022, and he latched onto the Browns roster via waivers the next day.
Mond from 2022 to Present
Here’s Mond’s full resume to date:
- Minnesota Vikings (2021)
- Cleveland Browns (2022)
- Indianapolis Colts (2023)
- New Orleans Saints (2024)
- San Antonio Brahmas (2025–present)
Mond last backed up Anthony Richardson and Gardner Minshew on the Indianapolis Colts roster in 2023, though he saw no regular season action. He also spent time with the Cleveland Browns in 2022 and 2023 before rookie quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson effectively stole his job during the preseason. Too, he auditioned for the Carolina Panthers roster in September 2023 when Bryce Young was temporarily injured but did not land a gig.
His stint with the Saints in 2024 lasted less than a month.
Next Up for Brahmas
The Brahmas take on the St. Louis Battlehawks this Sunday, a team led by quarterback Manny Wilkins.
The Battlehawks spanked the Houston Roughnecks in Week 1 by a score of 31-6.
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Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His MIN obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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