Vikings Make Sure to Keep the Band Together
The Minnesota Vikings entered the offseason knowing that they had to strike new deals with general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Kevin O’Connell to avoid losing them, but also to prevent any lame duck talk. O’Connell was signed quickly, but Adofo-Mensah’s deal took some extra time.
Vikings Make Sure to Keep the Band Together
On Friday, the club announced that Adofo-Mensah would stick around for a while. He has gotten the long-awaited contract extension.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported: “Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah signed a multi-year contract extension last night. The two sides have been working on the extension for weeks. This off-season, the Vikings now signed both Adofo-Mensah and HC Kevin O’Connell to multi-year deals.”
They are unlikely to announce the contract length, but multi-year is a good start to ensure continuity going forward.
Ownership’s Comments
On the team’s official website, the franchise quoted owner and president Mark Wilf: “Kwesi’s leadership, vision and collaboration with our coaching staff has positioned the Minnesota Vikings for sustained success. His dedication and forward-thinking approach have been instrumental in shaping our roster and future, and we are confident that under the guidance of him and Kevin O’Connell, we will continue to compete at the highest level as we pursue a championship for Vikings fans.”
Adofo-Mensah is a first-time general manager. He previously worked in various positions in San Francisco and Cleveland and was a Wall Street Trader prior to entering the football world.
Owner and chairman Zygi Wilf commented: “We are extremely excited to continue this journey with Kwesi in this role and confident in the direction he and Kevin are leading our organization. Kwesi’s commitment to building a championship-caliber team and his ability to collaborate effectively and make bold, calculated decisions has positioned the Vikings for long-term success.”
Adofo-Mensah has managed to get rid of the cap problems that he took over from the past regime and has overhauled the roster, turning it into a decent team. On paper, the current assemblage of players is likely the best since at least the last decade, perhaps even longer.
Adofo-Mensah’s Comments
Finally, we have a quote from Adofo-Mensah, the man of the hour, himself:
This organization means so much to me, and I’ve always believed in what we’re building here. From the ownership to the incredible staff, there’s a true commitment to creating a winning culture with the goal of competing year in and year out. I’m thankful for the trust the Wilf family has placed in me, and I’m thrilled to continue leading our football operation alongside Coach O’Connell.
Minnesota has welcomed my family with open arms, and we embrace the sacrifices that come with chasing the ultimate prize, knowing what it will mean to the best fan base and this great state. While we’ve made significant strides already, our focus will remain on building a team positioned as a perennial contender. This extension signifies we are on solid ground with the long-term vision we have set, and I’m incredibly excited to work with this group of talented people as we continue to push the boundaries of what this franchise can achieve.
The Regime
Adofo-Mensah and O’Connell were hired in the 2022 offseason. Since then, they have completely changed the organization’s culture and collected a 34-17 record along the way.
The one asterisk on his resume is the 2022 draft class. The fact that he was new on the job and that the old scouting staff scouted players for a new coaching staff surely didn’t help and the coaching change on the defensive side in 2023 was another issue, but ultimately, it’s his job to find good players in the draft and that didn’t work in his first attempt.
Fair or not, Skol Nation will evaluate him based on one player: J.J. McCarthy. If he turns out to be a fantastic quarterback, nobody will care about other misses in the draft. Conversely, if he does end up as a bust, Adofo-Mensah will probably be fired before getting the chance to select another one.
Regardless, the last few drafts look more promising, and so does the roster he assembled for the 2025 campaign with the help of the rookie quarterback contract.
Adofo-Mensah is here to stay.
Solving Kevin O’Connell’s (Barely) Coded Clue