The Minnesota Vikings have made a stunning change at the executive level. The team has fired general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah only eight months after he signed a multi-year contract extension.
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Multiple NFL insiders broke the news on Friday afternoon while citing sources with knowledge of the situation. This included ESPN's Adam Schefter and NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.
The Vikings then confirmed the news with a press release. This officially ended his tenure with the NFC North team after only four seasons, and it caught many by surprise considering that Adofo-Mensah had spent the week at the Senior Bowl evaluating future NFL prospects.
"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," owners Mark and Zygi Wilf said in a statement.
"These decisions are never easy. We are grateful for Kwesi's contributions and commitment to the organization over the past four years and wish him and his family the best in the future.
"Effective immediately, Executive Vice President of Football Operations Rob Brzezinski will lead our operations through the 2026 NFL Draft. Rob brings tremendous credibility and experience, understands our roster and has the ability to build consensus and rely on the expertise of our personnel and coaches.
"After the draft, we intend to conduct a thorough search to identify our next general manager. Building a team that can contend for championships drives us every day, and we look forward to bringing our fans the success they so deserve."
Adofo-Mensah took over as GM of the Vikings ahead of the 2022 season. He replaced longtime executive Rick Spielman, and he began working closely with head coach Kevin O'Connell while enjoying some success.
The Vikings went 43-25 with the Princeton graduate helping build the roster. However, the team lost in the wild-card round of the playoffs in both 2022 and 2024. The Vikings missed the postseason in 2023 and 2025.
Adofo-Mensah worked with O'Connell and brought in some talented players for all three phases of the game. This includes sixth-round pick Jalen Nailor, first-round pick Jordan Addison, and sixth-round pick Will Reichard.
The GM also worked to bring in some contributors through free agency. This includes linebacker Eric Wilson, cornerback Isaiah Rodgers, Jordan Mason, and Aaron Jones.
However, the quarterback position ultimately became a problem for Adofo-Mensah and the Vikings. The team had Sam Darnold, Daniel Jones, and JJ McCarthy in the building in 2024.
Darnold started the entire season and led the Vikings to a 14-3 record, but he also struggled in the final two games of the season. He ultimately departed for the Seahawks and led the NFC West team to Super Bowl 60.
Jones, the former Giants quarterback, landed with the Vikings midway through the season. He remained an option moving forward, but he ultimately decided to head to Indianapolis to fight for a starting job.
The Vikings moved forward with McCarthy, who missed his entire rookie season due to a torn right meniscus. This did not go well. The former Michigan quarterback started only 10 games due to a variety of injuries, and he failed to show consistency.
McCarthy had splashes of greatness, such as back-to-back wins over the Cowboys and Commanders in which he threw a combined five touchdown passes. He also threw 12 interceptions while posting four multi-interception games.
The 22-6 loss to the Falcons, in particular, saw McCarthy throwing two interceptions and fumbling three times.
The struggles alone put a damper on the season, but they were not the only problem. The backup quarterback situation became even more troublesome.
Instead of giving Darnold a long-term deal or using the franchise tag, the Vikings let him walk. They misjudged Jones's interest in staying with the team. They declined to purse Aaron Rodgers when he contacted the team to show interest.
The Vikings traded for Seahawks backup Sam Howell during the 2025 NFL Draft. They then dumped him for veteran Carson Wentz, who had to start five games before ending the season on Injured Reserve. Max Brosmer, an undrafted rookie, started two games after Wentz's shoulder surgery, and he went 1-1 while throwing four interceptions.
These issues at the most important position in football doomed what could have been a promising season for the Vikings. It also likely played a role in Adofo-Mensah losing his job only eight months after signing an extension.
