Brian Flores and The Uncertainty Resolving Itself Among the Vikings’ Leadership

Safe to say that just about everyone associated with the Vikings — from the leadership inside TCO Performance Center down to the fans — would be thrilled to have Brian Flores back for a third season.
The issue, of course, is that excellent coordinators often get stolen away from rival teams. Part of the cost of success. Flores has had some chances to interview at a few different spots, but those openings are in the process of being filled (read more on the Bears and Jaguars). Swirling behind the scenes of these various possibilities is the contract statuses of GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and HC Kevin O’Connell.
Brian Flores & The Uncertainty for the Vikings’ GM + HC
The sense one gets is that Flores enjoys working alongside O’Connell. And, to be sure, O’Connell seems to enjoy working alongside Flores. How important is it for the head coach to land a lengthy extension?
Tom Pelissero of The NFL Network broke the news yesterday: “The #Vikings and coach Kevin O’Connell have agreed to terms on a multi-year contract extension […] This was Minnesota’s priority and conversations started immediately after the season. Still only 39, O’Connell isn’t going anywhere.”
After the season concluded, O’Connell was asked about the possibility of landing an extension: “I’ve had great dialogue with our ownership this week and reflection as the season came to an end. Anything beyond that, I’d prefer to kind of keep those discussions internal.”
O’Connell didn’t elaborate too much on when a new deal could be done, but he did undermine the idea of there being “tension” with the owners: “What I would say is I love being the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings. And with that becomes the fact that I love our ownership, I have a great relationship with our ownership. And feel so fortunate, like I said, not only just the way they support us and believe in us, but also the impact they have on our players, on our locker room, and ultimately where we all want to go together.”

Not to be outdone, Adofo-Mensah also took on questions about signing an extension to remain as the Vikings’ GM.
“I try to keep most of my conversations with ownership private,” Adofo-Mensah begins, “but we did share time after the season, as we always do. They come in the building and they expressed to me their appreciation for Kevin and I’s leadership. And they’re really supportive of us.”
Adofo-Mensah goes on: “I’m always going to go back to the gratitude that I have for [the Wilfs] and that I want to be the general manager going forward.” Adofo-Mensah notes that he isn’t “entitled to anything” and that he is “unbelievably grateful to be the general manger of the Vikings and I want to continue to be so.”
The word is that the process is taking place for the GM. Pelissero with the update: “Conversations also are underway on an extension for #Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. Minnesota is 34-17 since they took over in 2022 and the plan is to keep the braintrust together.” Ben Goessling has confirmed the report.

Consider the role that Adofo-Mensah has had in equipping Brian Flores to put together a strong defense in 2024. The GM signed Jonathan Greenard, Andrew Van Ginkel, Blake Cashman, Stephon Gilmore, and Shaq Griffin. These are players — Van Ginkel especially — who are perfect fits for what Flores wants to accomplish.
Kicking things back a bit further would involve giving the GM credit for the Josh Metellus extension, finding Jalen Redmond, snagging Ivan Pace Jr. as an UDFA, and bringing Byron Murphy Jr. over from the desert.
Meanwhile, O’Connell seems very content to allow his coordinator to be his aggressive self. Think back to some of the friction that existed between Mike Zimmer and John DeFilippo or Norv Turner. Any sense at all that that dynamic is present between O’Connell and Flores? Or even consider O’Connell’s lone season with Ed Donatell. There’s no comparison.
O’Connell and Flores are a strong pair. Presumably, extending O’Connell is seen as a positive by Flores.

Brian Flores is a brilliant defensive tactician who has offered excellent leadership as Minnesota’s defensive coordinator. One has to assume that he would like to continue working alongside Kevin O’Connell and Kwesi Adofo-Mensah if Minnesota continues being home.
Flores’ defense finished the regular season as the NFL’s 5th-best unit by allowing an average of 19.5 points against per game.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference helped with this piece.

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K. Joudry is the Senior Editor for Vikings Territory and PurplePTSD. He has been covering the Vikings full time since the summer of 2021. He can be found on Twitter, as a co-host for Notes from the North, and as the proprietor at The Vikings Gazette, a humble Vikings Substack.