EAGAN, Minn. — The Minnesota Vikings are facing numerous roster challenges as they prepare for the offseason, especially with many key players set to become free agents. This period also involves critical considerations regarding the future of the team’s top leaders: general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and head coach Kevin O’Connell.
Since their appointments a few weeks apart in 2022, Adofo-Mensah and O’Connell have led the team to an overall record of 34 wins and 17 losses over three seasons, including two playoff appearances without a win. With one year left on both of their contracts, discussions about extensions for both leaders are important items on Minnesota’s offseason agenda.
On Thursday, O’Connell expressed that he has had productive discussions with the team’s ownership regarding the past season and his prospects for the future, indicating a desire to finalize a new contract this year. “Anything beyond that, I would prefer to kind of keep those discussions internal,” O’Connell stated, following the Vikings’ playoff exit in the wild-card round against the Los Angeles Rams.
Vikings owner and president Mark Wilf mentioned in a previous interview that the organization is excited about the possibility of continuing their journey with both Adofo-Mensah and O’Connell. During training camp, Wilf had indicated a preference to delay contract talks until the end of the 2024 season. “We’ll judge it like we’ve always done. We’ll evaluate the full body of work for everybody,” he asserted, highlighting their high expectations for the team and their confidence in the leadership of Adofo-Mensah and O’Connell.
When asked about any potential concerns stemming from the lack of a finalized deal, O’Connell chose not to address the issue directly. Instead, he emphasized his contentment in his role with the Vikings and the positive relationship he shares with ownership, noting, “I love being the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings, and with that comes the fact that I love our ownership. I have a great relationship with our ownership and feel so fortunate.” He added that the support and belief from the ownership greatly influence the players and the locker room atmosphere, ultimately aligning with their collective goals.
In his season-ending press conference on Thursday, Adofo-Mensah also refrained from discussing specifics regarding his contract negotiations but expressed gratitude for the support of the Wilf family. He reflected on the incredible opportunity they provided him, stating, “I’ve always dreamt of being a general manager in an organization that’s trying to do the thing they haven’t done before.” He continued, emphasizing his aspirations and the need to continually prove himself, saying, “I don’t think I’m entitled to anything. If I sign that contract tomorrow, I’d be running like I was scared just trying to always earn it, because somebody’s chasing you and somebody’s trying to be better than you.”
