To little surprise, the Vikings have already worked out an extension with head coach Kevin O’Connell this offseason. General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has been in place for three years alongside him, and their partnership could continue beyond 2025.
One year remains on Adofo-Mensah‘s current deal, and teams often look to avoid ‘lame-duck’ situations with coaches and GMs. Just like how O’Connell is on the books beyond the coming campaign, the same could soon be true of Adofo-Mensah. The 43-year-old said (via ESPN’s Kevin Seifert) extension talks are ongoing between his agent and owners Zygi and Mark Wilf.
“It’s probably on me that it’s not going quicker because I wake up every morning focused on the things that I need to focus on to get this team to where they want to go,” Adofo-Mensah said. “I know the Wilfs value me, the things I bring to this organization. I know I love it here. We’ve been able to accomplish a lot of different things.”
The Vikings have transitioned to a young core at many positions over the past three years, and the team’s 14-3 run last season is cause for high expectations moving forward. The quarterback situation is of course a question mark with J.J. McCarthy having missed his entire rookie season, but the 2024 first-rounder is on track to handle starting duties next season (depending on the nature of the likely veteran addition under center which is still to come). Adofo-Mensah will be tasked with overseeing Minnesota’s new era at the position, especially if he lands a new deal.
The NFC North sent three teams to the playoffs in 2024, and the division figures to remain among the toughest in the NFL moving forward. Continuity on the sidelines with the reigning Coach of the Year will be key; it would also come as no surprise if ownership elected to make a renewed commitment in the front office given Adofo-Mensah’s track record so far.
In the wake of the Vikings’ wild-card loss (the second of the O’Connell-Adofo-Mensah regime), it was confirmed extension talks for both would take place. The team already has one of those taken care of, and plenty of time still remains this offseason for the other to come into place.
I am sure it will line up with KOCs it is more about the money right now. He does deserve a raise base on the free agents he has been able to bring in. He still needs to figure out the draft though so it should be a reasonable but not huge raise.