Ex-Vikings QB Is in Trouble
Kellen Mond remains an infamous player in the Minnesota Vikings’ franchise history. Drafted in the third round, some had hope he could be Kirk Cousins’ successor after a few years of learning behind the veteran passer, but Mike Zimmer’s legendary presser quickly squashed those fantasies.
Ex-Vikings QB Is in Trouble
About 2.5 years after the Vikings said goodbye to the former Texas A&M standout, he has moved on to the UFL, the United Football League. He wants to rejuvenate his pro career in the developmental league and show enough promise to earn interest from an NFL franchise, but it’s not going too well for him.
In the last contest, Mond was benched in a Week 5 blowout loss against the Roughnecks. Mond’s San Antonio Brahmas were defeated 27-3. The ex-Viking completed only four of nine passes for 35 yards, no touchdowns, and one interception. Backup Harrett Guarantano entered the game. His numbers didn’t look any better with six of 15 completed passes for 29 yards and a pick.
The Brahmas have a decision to make. Do they stick with Mond or give Guarantano a shot? At this point, their head coach is still undecided.
Pro Football Network’s James Larsen noted on social media: “Here’s an interesting
@XFLBrahmas nugget: per HC Payton Pardee, no starting QB has been named for their game vs. Birmingham. Kellen Mond & Jarrett Guarantano both saw snaps this past Sunday. Mond has been the starter, but no guarantee he keeps that role this week.”
Kevin Hogan, a former fifth-rounder out of Stanford, is also on the team. He threw four touchdowns for the Browns in 2017.
Through five games, Mond has completed 67 of 118 passes (56.8%) for 597 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. In addition to the possible QB change, the Brahmas also had to swap offensive coordinators earlier in the season because the previous OC, A.J. Smith, resigned.
Special teams coach Payton Pardee was promoted to head coach and offensive coordinator because head coach Wade Phillips, father of Vikings OC Wes Phillips, had to take some time off a couple of weeks ago.
It’s a rather eventful season for the Brahmas, who are now 1-4 after losing the UFL title game last season.
For Mond, ending up on the bench in the UFL would pretty much be a death sentence for his NFL dreams.
His most notable NFL storyline came in the 2021 season, his rookie year. Mike Zimmer’s Vikings were fighting to save their season and had to beat the Packers at Lambeau Field. Cousins landed on the COVID list, and it was either Sean Mannion or Mond leading the offense.
Zimmer chose Mannion, but the team got blown out badly. When Mannion got banged up, Mond was asked to enter the game for a few plays. He completed two of three passes for a total of five yards. The incompletion was a dropped pick-six.
After the game, Zimmer was asked whether Mond would get a chance to showcase his talent in the meaningless following game. That contest would be Zimmer’s final event as Vikings head coach. His response is unforgettable.
Mond was cut in the following offseason after Kevin O’Connell got a good look at him in training camp and the preseason. Since then, he has had stints with the Browns, Colts, and Saints but without coming close to any NFL action.
The Brahmas are his first chapter outside of the NFL.
Long gone are his productive college days. At Texas A&M, he threw for almost 10,000 yards and 71 touchdowns and added another 1,608 yards and 22 scores on the ground.
Mond will turn 26 in June.
Editor’s Note: Information from the UFL, PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.
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