The band is staying together and getting ready to make more great music in the form of wins.
The Minnesota Vikings trust and believe in the vision general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has for the organization’s short- and long-term future. The team rewarded Adofo-Mensah a multiyear contract extension Friday after the team made the playoffs in two of his three seasons at the helm, they announced.
With the move, both Adofo-Mensah and coach Kevin O’Connell are under contract with the team for the foreseeable future. Both men were brought in prior to the 2022 NFL season and have experienced plenty of success side by side.
In a statement, Vikings owner Mark Wilf complimented Adofo-Mensah’s vision and leadership since taking over as the team’s general manager.
“Kwesi’s leadership, vision and collaboration with our coaching staff has positioned the Minnesota Vikings for sustained success,” Vikings Owner/President Mark Wilf said. “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.”
The team did not make public specific details regarding Adofo-Mensah’s new contract. Prior to the new deal, Adofo-Mensah was entering the final year of his initial contract with the team, which he inked in 2022.
Adofo-Mensah, 43 years-of-age, also released a statement Friday, saying he was “beyond excited to continue this journey.”
“This organization means so much to me, and I’ve always believed in what we’re building here,” Adofo-Mensah said in a statement. “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.”
Embed from Getty ImagesThe Vikings went an impressive 13-4 under Adofo-Mensah and O’Connell in 2022, earning the No. 3 seed in the NFC. Despite the team’s regular season success, they did not make it out of the wild-card round, losing to Daniel Jones and the No. 6 seed New York Giants in a stunner.
The team nose-dived in 2023 after quarterback Kirk Cousins tore his Achilles eight games into the season. Cousins was putting up MVP-level numbers prior to the injury and had the Vikings looking dangerous after the team started 0-3. The Vikings could not recover from Cousins’ injury, losing six of their last seven games and finishing the season 7-10.
Following Cousins’ departure to the Atlanta Falcons, Adofo-Mensah was tasked with finding the Vikings a new franchise quarterback. He drafted Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy with the 10th overall pick in the first round in the 2024 NFL Draft and signed Sam Darnold to a one-year deal.
“While we’ve made significant strides already, our focus will remain on building a team positioned as a perennial contender,” Adofo-Mensah added. “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.”
McCarthy’s season got off to a rough start, as he sustained a season-ending knee injury in the preseason. With McCarthy down, Darnold stepped into his role and delivered a career-best season, leading the Vikings to a 14-3 record and another playoff berth. Once again, the team failed to go deep in the postseason, losing in the wild-card round to the Los Angeles Rams 27-9.
After a successful season, Darnold left to sign a three-year, $100.5 million deal with the Seattle Seahawks. While the Vikings entertained the idea of bringing in veteran Aaron Rodgers, the team will entrust McCarthy with the starting role in 2025.
The move could make or break Adofo-Mensah’s tenure with the Vikings. If McCarthy can deliver on the promise he showed at Michigan, where he won a national championship, the Vikings should remain a perennial contender. If McCarthy fails, Adofo-Mensah will be criticized for the draft pick, and for allowing Darnold to walk out the door in free agency.
Despite that uncertainty, the team clearly believes Adofo-Mensah knows what he is doing. And on the off-chance McCarthy fails to live up to expectations, Friday’s extension shows belief and confidence that Adofo-Mensah is resourceful enough to quickly right the ship if necessary.
