Vikings Fire GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah: The Paternity Leave Report & The Super Bowl QB Mistake
EAGAN, Minn. — The Minnesota Vikings cleaned house on Friday, ending the Kwesi Adofo-Mensah era just eight months after handing him a contract extension. While the 43-25 record over four years looks respectable on paper, the decision boils down to two things: a catastrophic misevaluation at quarterback and a reported culture clash that has the NFL world buzzing.
The “Disbelief” Factor: Culture Clash in Eagan
While the on-field results were mixed, the off-field chatter has dominated the headlines since Friday’s announcement. A bombshell report from The Athletic’s Alec Lewis and Dianna Russini peeled back the curtain on Adofo-Mensah’s relationship with the organization’s “football lifers.”
The report highlighted a specific flashpoint: Adofo-Mensah taking a two-week paternity leave during a past training camp. While the organization publicly supported the move, insiders claim it sparked “disbelief” among rival executives and old-school coaches who view training camp as a sacred, 24/7 grind.
That tension spilled onto social media Monday. Former Chargers defensive tackle Breiden Fehoko didn’t hold back, igniting a viral debate on X (formerly Twitter):
“Yeah I’m not gonna lie you can’t do this. NFL teams are usually cool about missing a day for the birth and such but that’s about it. Taking paternity leave as a GM is crazy man.”
— Breiden Fehoko via X
Adofo-Mensah reportedly worked remotely during his leave, but the reaction underscores a widening gap between the NFL’s traditional “grind culture” and the modern, analytical approach Adofo-Mensah represented.
The Football Reality: The Sam Darnold Regret
Let’s be clear: If the Vikings were in the Super Bowl right now, nobody would care about paternity leave. But they aren’t. Sam Darnold is.
The nail in the coffin wasn’t the leave; it was the quarterback room. Adofo-Mensah let Darnold walk in free agency last spring after a 14-win season, betting the house on 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy. The result?
- Sam Darnold: Led the Seattle Seahawks to Super Bowl LX (playing this Sunday).
- J.J. McCarthy: Struggled through injury and inconsistency as Minnesota watched the playoffs from the couch.
When you pay a GM to make the big calls, watching the guy you cut lead another team to the Super Bowl is a fireable offense in almost any owner’s book.
What’s Next for Minnesota?
The Wilf family moved quickly, naming Executive VP of Football Operations Rob Brzezinski as the interim GM through the 2026 NFL Draft in April. Brzezinski, a cap wizard who has survived multiple regime changes, brings stability while the ownership group conducts a wide search.
The Vikings enter the 2026 offseason with questions at quarterback, a roster built on “competitive rebuild” half-measures, and a front office in need of a new identity. The experiment is over; now the cleanup begins.
Read More: SEAHWAKS ARRIVE: Spoon & JSN Lead Seattle’s ’23 Class to Super Bowl LX