Minnesota Vikings fire GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah after four seasons
Story by
Minnesota Vikings fire GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah after four seasons
Ayrton Ostly, USA TODAY·USA TODAY Sports
·
2 min read
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
After a 9-8 campaign in 2025, theMinnesota Vikingsare making changes.
The franchise confirmed on Friday, Jan. 30 in a statement that they have fired general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah after four years at the position.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Adofo-Mensah came to Minnesota after seven years with theSan Francisco 49ersand two with theCleveland Browns. He had been the vice president of football operations with Cleveland before his arrival as general manager with theVikingsin 2022.
Adofo-Mensah's arrival coincided with the hiring of head coach Kevin O'Connell. Minnesota has made the playoffs twice in the four seasons under that tandem but has not recorded a win in either playoff berth.
The Vikings made the choice ahead of the 2025 season to not retain quarterback Sam Darnold, who is playing in Super Bowl 60 with theSeattle Seahawks. With J.J. McCarthy at quarterback, Minnesota dropped to a bottom-eight scoring offense for the first time under O'Connell.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Adofo-Mensah spoke recently on the decision not to keep Darnold.
"There are nights you wake up and stare at the ceiling and ask yourself," Adofo-Mensah said. "I always go back to the process and what we thought at the time. I still understand why we did what we did. The results maybe didn't play out the way we wanted them to, but ultimately, at the end of the day I think we could have executed in certain places."
Quarterback Cole Payton (9) of North Dakota State throws with protection from offensive lineman Delby Lemieux (50) of Dartmouth.
(Vasha Hunt, Imagn Images)
Cornerback Colton Hood (27) of Tennessee leaps for a pass during Senior Bowl practice.
(Vasha Hunt, Imagn Images)
Running back Adam Randall (23) of Clemson fights for the ball against linebacker Kaleb Elarms-Orr (3) of TCU.
(Vasha Hunt, Imagn Images)
Running back Kaytron Allen (11) of Penn State runs the ball with offensive lineman Carver Willis (75) of Washington blocking.
(Vasha Hunt, Imagn Images)
Quarterback Diego Pavia (2) of Vanderbilt drops back to pass.
(Vasha Hunt, Imagn Images)
Tight end Nate Boerkircher (87) of Texas A&M battles safety Deshon Singleton (29) of Nebraska for a pass.
(Vasha Hunt, Imagn Images)
Quarterback Sawyer Robertson of Baylor throws the ball during Senior Bowl practice at Hancock Whitney Stadium.
(Vasha Hunt, Imagn Images)
Wide receiver Vinny Anthony II of Wisconsin works against cornerback Jalen McMurray (24) of Tennessee.
(Vasha Hunt, Imagn Images)
Linebacker Kyle Louis (31) of Pittsburgh goes through a pass-catching drill at Hancock Whitney Stadium.
(Vasha Hunt, Imagn Images)
Wide receiver Josh Cameron (34) of Baylor goes through drills at Hancock Whitney Stadium.
(Vasha Hunt, Imagn Images)
Defensive tackle Lee Hunter (10) of Texas Tech works through a drill.
(Vasha Hunt, Imagn Images)
1/11
2026 Senior Bowl week: NFL draft prospects in action
Quarterback Cole Payton (9) of North Dakota State throws with protection from offensive lineman Delby Lemieux (50) of Dartmouth.
(Vasha Hunt, Imagn Images)
1/11
2026 Senior Bowl week: NFL draft prospects in action
Quarterback Cole Payton (9) of North Dakota State throws with protection from offensive lineman Delby Lemieux (50) of Dartmouth.
(Vasha Hunt, Imagn Images)
2/11
2026 Senior Bowl week: NFL draft prospects in action
Cornerback Colton Hood (27) of Tennessee leaps for a pass during Senior Bowl practice.
(Vasha Hunt, Imagn Images)
3/11
2026 Senior Bowl week: NFL draft prospects in action
Running back Adam Randall (23) of Clemson fights for the ball against linebacker Kaleb Elarms-Orr (3) of TCU.
(Vasha Hunt, Imagn Images)
4/11
2026 Senior Bowl week: NFL draft prospects in action
Running back Kaytron Allen (11) of Penn State runs the ball with offensive lineman Carver Willis (75) of Washington blocking.
(Vasha Hunt, Imagn Images)
5/11
2026 Senior Bowl week: NFL draft prospects in action
Quarterback Diego Pavia (2) of Vanderbilt drops back to pass.
(Vasha Hunt, Imagn Images)
6/11
2026 Senior Bowl week: NFL draft prospects in action
Tight end Nate Boerkircher (87) of Texas A&M battles safety Deshon Singleton (29) of Nebraska for a pass.
(Vasha Hunt, Imagn Images)
7/11
2026 Senior Bowl week: NFL draft prospects in action
Quarterback Sawyer Robertson of Baylor throws the ball during Senior Bowl practice at Hancock Whitney Stadium.
(Vasha Hunt, Imagn Images)
8/11
2026 Senior Bowl week: NFL draft prospects in action
Wide receiver Vinny Anthony II of Wisconsin works against cornerback Jalen McMurray (24) of Tennessee.
(Vasha Hunt, Imagn Images)
9/11
2026 Senior Bowl week: NFL draft prospects in action
Linebacker Kyle Louis (31) of Pittsburgh goes through a pass-catching drill at Hancock Whitney Stadium.
(Vasha Hunt, Imagn Images)
10/11
2026 Senior Bowl week: NFL draft prospects in action
Wide receiver Josh Cameron (34) of Baylor goes through drills at Hancock Whitney Stadium.
(Vasha Hunt, Imagn Images)
11/11
2026 Senior Bowl week: NFL draft prospects in action
Defensive tackle Lee Hunter (10) of Texas Tech works through a drill.