One year ago, the Vikings found themselves at a crossroads. J.J. McCarthy was coming off a rookie season spent entirely in recovery, while Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones approached free agency.
Both Darnold and Jones wound up landing starting positions elsewhere on the open market. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah was not entirely averse to keeping one of the two veterans in place, but he and the Vikings were ultimately prepared to hand the reins over to McCarthy. On every front – the play by Jones on an impressive Colts team prior to his Achilles tear, Darnold’s contribution to the Super Bowl champion Seahawks and McCarthy’s struggles – that decision backfired.
Adofo-Mensah is now out of the picture, while Minnesota faces the unenviable task of finding a starting-caliber passer amidst a challenging cap situation. The team’s offense will have a high floor if the right one can be acquired, and another year of strong defensive play should be expected in 2026. But the central question in the Vikings’ case remains unanswered on the eve of the new league year.
Coaching/front office:
- Fired GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah; Rob Brzezinski in place on interim basis
- Extended defensive coordinator Brian Flores
- Hired Frank Smith as assistant head coach, replacing Mike Pettine
- TEs coach Brian Angelichino became Steelers’ OC
- Defensive pass-game coordinator Daronte Jones joined Commanders as DC
- Added Matt Thomas to front office
Hired during the 2022 offseason, Adofo-Mensah joined the Vikings at the same time as head coach Kevin O’Connell. The latter’s reputation has steadily gained steam over time, but that was not the case regarding Minnesota’s front office leader.
