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Former MN Vikings QB Finds Starting Job Outside NFL
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- Former MN Vikings QB Finds Starting Job Outside NFL
Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
The last couple offseasons have been stressful for Minnesota Vikings fans. There's a lot on the line when an NFL team turns over the quarterback position. Pick the next QB correctly, and there will be nothing but deep playoff runs and Super Bowl appearances in your team's future. Just ask the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs .
Choose the wrong quarterback, however, and it could take a half-decade (or longer) for an NFL team to recover. And normally, very few coaches, executives or players come out on the other end with their jobs still in-tact, if they fail to find competent QB play. That's why NFL organizations are so willing to pay mediocre veteran QBs that has already proven themselves at least capable, if called upon.
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In Minnesota, especially, we've seen a Vikings franchise that has been very hesitant to take big risks at QB. For one, they've rarely been slotted high enough in the draft to take a chance at one of the top QBs. But also, the Wilf family ownership group has preferred more of a sure under center, since they bought the team back in 2005 .
Minnesota Vikings bad at drafting QBs during Wilf era
That's probably because their initial swing at a first round quarterback was Christian Ponder at No. 12 overall in 2011. Obviously, that did not go over as planned. They swung again six years later, selecting Teddy Bridgewater No. 32 overall in 2017. Then, of course, JJ McCarthy No. 10 overall in 2024.
Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images
But the Vikings have also been hesitant to draft quarterbacks on day two of the NFL Draft, over the past two decades , too. In fact, since 2005, the MN Vikings have only selected two QBs between rounds two and three. The first was Tarvaris Jackson in the 2nd round of the 2006 draft. The other, to the dismay of then head coach Mike Zimmer, was Texas A&M QB Kellen Mond very early in the 3rd round (No. 66 overall) back in 2021.
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Related: Kellen Mond Confirms Mike Zimmer Mostly Ignored Him
Tarvaris Jackson served his purpose, back in the mid-2000s, which was mostly just handing the ball to Adrian Peterson while we waited for Brett Favre to finally arrived in 2009. Unfortunately, the Minnesota Vikings got very little out of Kellen Mond's time in purple, or the early 3rd round investment they paid. Unless, of course, the goal in drafting him was to piss off Mike Zimmer, in which case it worked perfectly .
Kellen Mond named QB1 for San Antonio Brahmas
This summer, though, the Kellen Mond redemption tour starts in the UFL, where he was just named the starting quarterback for the San Antonio Brahmas, whose season starts next Saturday (March 29) vs the Arlington Renegades (on FOX).
BREAKING: The San Antonio Brahmas have named Kellen Mond as their starting QB for the 2025 season. pic.twitter.com/fLUXVsxCvD
— United Football League (@TheUFL) March 22, 2025
Last UFL season, the Brahmas finished runner-up for the UFL Championship, losing the the team they host on Saturday, which only adds to the intrigue of next weekend's matchup. This will be the 2nd official UFL season, which came together as part of the 2023 XFL + USFL merger .
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Related: Minnesota Vikings Priority Draft Target Revealed
After the most prolific QB career in Texas A&M history, in which Kellen Mond threw for school records in total yards (9,661) and touchdowns (71). Unfortunately, the College Station legend was drafted into arguably the worst situation in the league — Mike Zimmer's shit list.
Kellen Mond won't get a snap vs Chicago if Mike Zimmer has anything to say about it. #Vikings pic.twitter.com/SHpRMmlZar
— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) January 3, 2022
It wasn't even Mond's fault. Zim wanted the Minnesota Vikings to use that early 2021 third round pick on defense. When GM Rick Spielman took Mond instead, the head coach stormed out of the Vikings war room and didn't return for the rest of the night.
Best of luck, Mr. Kellen Mond…
Kellen Mond is now 25 years old . He's played in just one regular season NFL game, which came his rookie season with the Vikings in week 16 vs the Green Bay Packers . He went 2-for-3 passing, for 5 yards. In 2022, he was a depth QB with the Cleveland Browns .
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In 2023 and 2024, the San Antonio Texas native spent time on the preseason and practice squad rosters of the Colts and Saints. But in 2025, Kellen Mond isn't going to sit around waiting for another practice squad spot during the NFL offseason
Related: Minnesota Vikings Reportedly in Talks With Veteran QB
He's taking his talents to the UFL instead. Only time will tell if Mond ever makes his way back to the league. But no matter what, we'll always have that one preseason game against the Raiders where he threw two touchdown passes…
Kellen Mond with his second TD pass of the day! #SKOL #Vikings pic.twitter.com/evIvInrBgg
— The Viking Age (@TheVikingAge) August 14, 2022
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