After four seasons in charge of football operations, General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah was sacked by the Minnesota Vikings on January 30, 2026, making one of the more unexpected front office choices of the NFL offseason. Due in large part to the fact that Adofo-Mensah had just received a contract extension less than a year prior, the news shocked both the Vikings fan base and the NFL community.
What took place? Let’s go back in time and examine the highs and lows that preceded this momentous choice, as well as how it will affect the Vikings going into the 2026 NFL Draft.
Kwesi Adofo-Mensah: Who Is She?
In January 2022, team ownership appointed 44-year-old Kwesi Adofo-Mensah as general manager of the Minnesota Vikings, ushering in a new era of analytics, cultural development, and contemporary roster design. Prior to Minnesota, he held front office positions with the Cleveland Browns and San Francisco 49ers, where he was recognised for his analytical style rather than his foundation in traditional football.
Adofo-Mensah’s employment marked a change because the Vikings were looking for fresh perspectives and were sick of making the same old decisions.
The Highlights: Achievement, Development, and Records
Adofo-Mensah had a solid regular-season record of 43-25 during his four seasons as general manager, including several postseason trips. During his leadership, the Vikings made it to the postseason twice and won at least one NFC North championship.
This appears to be a strong performance from the outside. However, the Vikings’ postseason setbacks—losing both of their Wild Card games and never moving on—made those regular-season marks seem less significant.
Nevertheless, under his direction, the team remained competitive and avoided being a complete rebuild, which is good for a team that is always focused on winning right now.
However, everything changed after that.
When you delve more into the events of the 2025 season, the narrative takes a dramatic turn:
1. A disappointing season and missing the playoffs
After a strong 2024 season in which they ended 14-3, the Vikings took a step backward in 2025, finishing 9-8. Their decline was enough to leave them off the postseason map, which the organization evidently felt intolerable.
2. Doubtful Quarterback Approach
After the 2024 season, Adofo-Mensah made the high-profile choice to allow quarterback Sam Darnold depart in free agency and to rely on rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy to lead the team. Unfortunately, Darnold, who is currently with the Seattle Seahawks, excelled and helped lead them to the Super Bowl, while McCarthy suffered with consistency and injuries.
Fans and leadership were understandably hurt by the result—success for a former player you let go.
3. Player Development Issues and Draft Concerns
Draft performance was a key point of contention during Adofo-Mensah’s term. The cumulative number of starts from players drafted between 2022 and 2025 was among the lowest in the league, as Vikings teams frequently failed to find impact players. This type of output is important since drafted talent contributes to the depth and sustainability of the roster.
The Ownership of the Vikings Speaks
Vikings owners Mark and Zygi Wilf expressed their appreciation for Adofo-Mensah’s accomplishments in a statement following the announcement of the change, but they made it plain that they wanted “new leadership” to help the team advance **deeper into postseason contention.
Here’s the essential part:
“After giving it some thought, we have determined that moving forward with new leadership of our football operations is in the best interest of the team.”
That says it all: Minnesota feels that even with victories, the current paradigm is insufficient to become a real contender.
What Will Happen Next?
In order to give Minnesota time to assess applicants before appointing a new full-time general manager, Executive Vice President of Football Operations Rob Brzezinski will temporarily assume control of the front office through the 2026 NFL Draft.
The draft turns into a crucial time for both roster construction and determining the organization’s future course. The person in charge will have to strike a difficult balance between short-term success and long-term stability, which Adofo-Mensah found difficult to maintain.
Concluding Remarks
During his time with the Minnesota Vikings, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah experienced both scandal and promise. Despite his competitive records and innovative ideas, he was ultimately unable to maintain his position in the NFL’s high-stakes environment. The ruling serves as a reminder that winning games is important, but winning big games and creating a sustainable competitor, which is even more important.
With new leadership on the horizon for the Vikings in 2026, one question will be the focus of increasing attention from both fans and analysts: Will the next general manager be able to convert promise into postseason success?