The Vikings’ 5 Top Leaders and The Likelihood of Being Fired
The 2025 season has fallen well short of expectations. Accordingly, there has been some consideration of the Vikings’ 5 top leaders and their job security (or lack thereof).
In particular, one thinks of GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and HC Kevin O’Connell. Neither have had a strong 2025 (though the job interview is ongoing). The team’s top executive ran roughshod on the 2024 offseason, acquiring a pile of impact talent. Not so in 2025. And then Coach O’Connell proved far too stubborn in his desire to pass the ball while placing far too much on J.J. McCarthy’s 22-year-old shoulders. Is Minnesota moving toward a future with different leadership?
The Vikings’ 5 Top Leaders Going into 2026
GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah
Without question, Mr. Adofo-Mensah has had a mixed history as the team’s GM.
Some of his extensions have been excellent. One thinks of Justin Jefferson, Josh Metellus, Christian Darrisaw, and so on. He has similarly done excellently at various points when it comes to luring free-agent talent (Sam Darnold, Aaron Jones, Jonathan Greenard, Isaiah Rodgers, Andrew Van Ginkel, and so on). Go ahead and dig into the draft and there are some hits there as well as in the undrafted portion of things.
But, to be sure, there have been a pile of mistakes, too.
Very good chance, folks, that Kwesi Adofo-Mensah returns in 2026. He’ll need to improve alongside everyone else. Expect the GM to get another shot to push Minnesota to where it’s trying to go: becoming an annual contender.
Guess for 2026: Kwesi Adofo-Mensah Stays.
HC Kevin O’Connell
The Coach of the Year Award feels like ancient history.
To my eye, J.J. McCarthy’s struggles mostly come down to Kevin O’Connell. For too long did Minnesota maintain a stubborn commitment to throwing a ton. Doing so behind an oft-injured offensive line was even worse. The rotten cherry on top? Just that McCarthy was being tasked with fixing his mechanics while playing NFL football on his Sundays. Far, far too much for a sophomore who has faced significant injury hurdles.
Coach O’Connell’s job is safe. He’ll need to continue adjusting his approach — as he has done these past two weeks, leading to McCarthy success — and he’ll be rewarded for doing so.
Oh, and as a bonus: offensive coordinator Wes Phillips will be sticking around, too.
Guess for 2026: Kevin O’Connell Stays.
DC Brian Flores
Hard not to think that Brian Flores got dealt a bad hand.
A pile of his players have fallen short of expectations. For a good portion of the year, the Vikings’ offense decided that playing competent football wasn’t super important. Coach Flores nevertheless found a way to lead a good defense that makes life difficult for the opposition.
Some team out there would be wise to give him a head coach job. The NFL, though, won’t do what’s sensible. Instead, the defensive coordinator remains as the defensive coordinator.
Guess for 2026: Brian Flores Stays.
Sp/T Matt Daniels
Looking around online leaves one with the sense that the special teams have been a disaster. That’s not so.
Kicker Will Reichard is operating at a level that deserves All Pro and Pro Bowl consideration. Punter Ryan Wright is putting together a great season. Long snapper Andrew DePaola has been a Pro Bowl talent and an All Pro since Coach Daniels took over in ’22.
Even better is that rookie UDFA Myles Price is doing good things as a punt and kickoff returner. Tai Felton and Tavierre Thomas are excellent gunners.
If, however, the team needs a scapegoat, then the special teams coordinator may be the one who is shown the door. To be clear, my strong belief is that Coach Daniels is good at what he does even if his group hasn’t always been perfect. The Vikings would be smart to keep him employed but may not do so in a cutthroat NFL.
Guess for 2026: Matt Daniels Goes.
QB J.J. McCarthy
The Vikings aren’t going to move on from Mr. McCarthy.
Now, there’s ample wisdom in bringing a respectable veteran to town. Avoiding that approach — bringing in a veteran — would be remarkably foolish due to the sophomore’s injuries and inconsistent play. The Vikings will nevertheless be rallying around the kid QB.
Even when things were going poor, I was saying J.J. McCarthy was going to be fine in the end. Pain along the way? No question. The key was the belief that McCarthy would be a franchise quarterback once he worked through the potent pain of purifying fire.
What happens if Joe Burrow actually does become available via trade? Well, then things would get interesting.
Guess for 2026: J.J McCarthy Stays.
