The Vikings signed coach Kevin O’Connell to a new deal in January, but remained in negotiation their general manager, hoping to reach an agreement this offseason.
Vikings General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has overseen a roster overhaul that left just 11 players from the roster he inherited in 2022. (Carlos Gonzalez/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
The Vikings signed General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah to a multiyear contract extension on Friday after months of negotiation.
“Kwesi’s leadership, vision and collaboration with our coaching staff has positioned the Minnesota Vikings for sustained success,” Vikings owner and president Mark Wilf said in a statement released by the team. “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, like head coach Kevin O’Connell, was entering the final season of a four-year contract signed upon arriving in Minnesota after the 2021 season. On Jan. 21, eight days after the team’s playoff loss to the Rams, the Vikings agreed with O’Connell on an extension that runs through the 2029 season.
The Vikings remained in discussions with Adofo-Mensah about his contract extension, and Wilf said in late March that the team wanted to complete a new deal with the GM this offseason.
In three years, Adofo-Mensah has been aggressive in the free agent and trade markets, acquiring tight end T.J. Hockenson, cornerback Stephon Gilmore, and left tackle Cam Robinson either midseason or, in Gilmore’s case, a few weeks prior to the start of the season.
The Vikings’ 14-win campaign last year was fueled by his 2024 free agent class led by quarterback Sam Darnold, linebacker Blake Cashman, and edge rushers Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel.
But initial drafts under Adofo-Mensah have been rife with misses.
Just 12 of 23 players from Adofo-Mensah’s first three draft classes (2022-2024) remain with the team. The Vikings made five selections in this year’s NFL draft.
Adofo-Mensah’s top task right now, guided by quarterback-focused O’Connell, is transitioning again at the NFL’s most important positionL first from quarterback Kirk Cousins to Darnold and now Darnold to J.J. McCarthy, the 10th overall pick in 2024.
After briefly entertaining reunions with Darnold and Daniel Jones, the Vikings let both walk in free agency and traded with the Seahawks for quarterback Sam Howell, whose 18 NFL starts make him the most experienced option in a Vikings quarterback room that also contains McCarthy, Brett Rypien and undrafted rookie Max Brosmer.
Adofo-Mensah came to Minnesota with a reputation for being curious and collaborative at previous stops in Cleveland and San Francisco. He helped organize San Francisco’s 2017 head-coaching search that landed on Kyle Shanahan, years before he helped the Vikings hire O’Connell.
He has often credited Vikings ownership, the Wilf family, for their support. That is evident in how many hires Adofo-Mensah has made to the team’s administration and personnel departments.
When the Vikings hired Adofo-Mensah, there were 26 employees listed in scouting, administration and data analysis. Last year, the team had 38 employees listed under Adofo-Mensah and Rob Brzezinski, the Executive Vice President of Football Operations, including two personnel directors hired by Adofo-Mensah: Ryan Grigson and Demitrius Washington.
Adofo-Mensah, who references algorithm analysis like Monte Carlo simulations, is the NFL’s first general manager from an analytical background.
Last year, the Vikings were one of 13 teams employing at least five staffers in quantitative analysis roles, according to an ESPN analysis. However, one of those Vikings employees, quantitative methods associate Chenzo Funari, broke down the proverbial walls between data analysis and coaching. Funari transitioned to the coaching side for the 2025 season as a defensive quality control coach.
The Vikings have another three staffers who develop and manage their database systems.