NFL Insider Explains Real Reason the Vikings Fired Kwesi Adofo-Mensah
On January 30th, three and a half weeks after the end of the 2025 regular season, the Minnesota Vikings fired general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah after four seasons. Reasons for his termination ran rampant, but thanks to ESPN’s Peter Schrager, the cause is known: Adofo-Mensah’s quarterback decision-making was not trustworthy for the long haul.
The firing elevates Kevin O’Connell’s influence, and it compresses the timeline to get the quarterback call right.
Executive vice president of football operations Rob Brzezinski now holds the interim general manager title, and fans will merely hope he’s better in the director’s chair. Fans will get a verdict rather soon, as the NFL’s “legal tampering” period of free agency gets cracking in 10 days.
Schrager’s Explanation Points Back to the Quarterback Bet
Schrager succinctly explains the Vikings’ decision.
Schrager on Kwesi’s Downfall
Speaking to Get Up on ESPN, Schrager explained Adofo-Mensah’s termination: “This was a 14-win team a year ago, and they fired their GM less than 12 months later. And it’s not because of paternity leaves or the relationship with Kevin O’Connell.”
“They fired the GM because he had Sam Darnold, Daniel Jones, and an interested Aaron Rodgers in the building, and he said, ‘No, we’re good with JJ — and Max Brosmer and Carson Wentz are gonna be his backups. They’re not going to make the same mistake twice.”
It’s also worth noting that Adofo-Mensah had an approximate 15%-20% success rate in the draft, which did not help his cause for long-term employment.
The Working Theory — Explained
These are the Cliff Notes of Schrager’s comments, extrapolated with a little flair from VikingsTerritory:
- Kevin O’Connell recommended the Vikings trade up for Drake Maye in the 2024 NFL Draft. The Vikings tried, but the New England Patriots wouldn’t move off the third overall pick. With O’Connell’s blessing, Minnesota then drafted J.J. McCarthy.
- After the 2024 campaign, when Sam Darnold delivered 4,319 passing yards and 35 touchdowns, O’Connell urged his boss to re-sign Darnold; Adofo-Mensah didn’t want to spend $33 million per season on a quarterback who played like trash in the two most important games of the season. After all, Adofo-Mensah had drafted McCarthy 11 months prior.
- O’Connell also nudged his team to re-sign Daniel Jones, but Jones picked the Indianapolis Colts over the Vikings, knowing he could win the starting job over Anthony Richardson, whereas Minnesota seemed committed to McCarthy.
- Then, O’Connell and Aaron Rodgers had talks about a one-year relationship, but Adofo-Mensah never took the bait.
- Every step of the way — Maye, Darnold, Jones, and Rodgers — O’Connell came up with the right solution — but was ignored.
That’s what the tea leaves point to — and explain why Adofo-Mensah was fired five days after Darnold helped the Seattle Seahawks win the NFC Championship.
One Chance for O’Connell to Make It Right
All of that said, O’Connell doesn’t have a clean slate. With Adofo-Mensah’s departure, the pressure on O’Connell to deliver results has intensified. Now wielding greater control over roster decisions, the head coach bears full accountability for the team’s performance, and the quarterback situation demands immediate attention — either a full commitment to McCarthy or the identification of a viable alternative.
Entering his fifth year, still seeking his first playoff victory, the 2026 season looms large for O’Connell. A playoff berth feels essential, and a January win could be crucial for his long-term job security, as few coaches survive beyond Year 5 without demonstrating some level of playoff success.
Historically, head coaches rarely outlast the general manager who hired them. Teams that dismiss the GM often move on from the coach shortly thereafter if significant improvement isn’t evident. Recent examples include Tennessee and Carolina, and Miami nearly followed suit before ultimately firing Mike McDaniel.
Minnesota now finds itself in a similar position. A season mired around 6-11 or 7-10, particularly if attributed to a poor quarterback selection, could trigger further organizational changes. Achieving a 9-8 record or better and demonstrating genuine playoff potential likely represents the minimum requirement for stability, especially given ownership’s increased reliance on O’Connell as the primary decision-maker.
Adofo-Mensah Back on His Feet
As a side note, Adofo-Mensah didn’t wallow in unemployment long. The San Francisco 49ers hired him this week, naming him a “personnel executive.” The club will evidently give him a more suitable job title after the draft.
Adofo-Mensah’s stock is low, but the job in San Francisco will keep him relevant and perhaps in the mix to reapply for general manager jobs in a few years.
Per the NFLPA Player Report Card, players assigned Adofo-Mensah an ‘A’ grade in 2025 for his general management.
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