Why Vikings fired general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah in surprise move

Mike Moraitis

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Why Vikings fired general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah in surprise move image

The Minnesota Vikings made a surprising move on Friday, with the team firing general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah after four seasons.

The decision comes just eight months after the Vikings decided to extend his contract. That, combined with the timing of the decision, which comes well after teams usually decide to make a change at general manager, makes this a surprise.

So, why did the Vikings give Adofo-Mensah the boot? Here's what we know.

Why Vikings fired Kwesi Adofo-Mensah

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, who cites talk in league circles, there was a "tension" in the Vikings' building, with one source even going so far as to say the tension was "ugly."

"Throughout the season, there was talk about an underlying 'tension' in the Vikings’ building in league circles. One league source said it had been 'ugly' in Minnesota. Then today, the Vikings fired Kwesi Adofo-Mensah," Schefter reported.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that the tension was between Adofo-Mensah and the coaching staff, and he hints the team's quarterback decision in the 2025 offseason was the reason for that.

"Inside the building, certainly there was some tension with Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, with the coaching staff, and really just with the way things went (in 2025)," Rapoport reported.

"There's been a lot that goes into these decisions, and there always are. It is not simply about one thing," Rapoport said. "But the way that the Minnesota Vikings handled the quarterback position certainly stands out."

According to The Athletic's Dianna Russini and Alec Lewis, another issue was the "differences of opinion on free agency and trade acquisitions."

Adofo-Mensah's draft history was another stain on his record and that also played a role in his firing, the report from Russini and Lewis says.

Of course the Vikings let Sam Darnold walk after a 14-win season in favor of starting J.J. McCarthy, the team's 2024 first-round pick.

McCarthy struggled mightily through his first season as a starter while also dealing with injuries and the Vikings finished 9-8 and fell short of the playoffs.

Meanwhile, Darnold had another fantastic season with the 14-win Seattle Seahawks, who are now in the Super Bowl.

Now, the Vikings will have to search for Adofo-Mensah's replacement, something that the team says will happen after the 2026 NFL draft.

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