Andrew Buller-Russ
The Minnesota Vikings hired Kwesi Adofo-Mensah to be their general manager in 2022. He oversaw four draft classes, but only one player has been named to an All-Pro or Pro Bowl team: kicker Will Reichard. So it’s no surprise that the Vikings moved on from the analytical-based Adofo-Mensah this past offseason.
While the initial decision came as a bit of a surprise, it’s not hard to see why the Vikings wanted to move in a new direction. Now, more details are coming out about why the Vikings decided to cut bait from their former GM, even if they didn’t have an immediate replacement in mind.
Interim general manager Rob Brzezinski has been busy working to clean up the team’s cap sheet. It’s meant saying goodbye to some of the team’s top free agency signings from 2025, releasing Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave.
But what if those players were never part of Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores’ vision in the first place?
Recently, NFL insider Ari Meirov revealed that multiple coaches didn’t agree with Adofo-Mensah’s mindset. That could mean he was drafting and/or signing athletes that didn’t align with the scheme or paying the wrong players.
“There were coaches on that staff that were not seeing eye to eye with Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. Some people have said Kevin O’Connell. I do think part of that is true. Brian Flores was not seeing eye to eye at all.” Meirov said, “Whoever the GM ends up being, this is going to be a situation where the coaching staff has a big say when it comes to everything going on within that organization.”
Ari Meirov on Minnesota Vikings power structure
The Vikings have moved forward with the second round of their GM interviews, which includes Rob Brzezinski, who’s been serving in an interim capacity.
Whoever lands the job, expect coach O’Connell and possibly coach Flores to emerge with a bigger voice in which prospects and players the Vikings prioritize going forward. It’s possible we’ve already seen that process take effect with who the Vikings have added this offseason.
Related: Top Minnesota Vikings Insider: Team ‘Desperately Needs’ More Roster Help
