Vikings HC O'Connell Talks Potentially Getting More Power Over Roster Decisions After GM's Exit

Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell was somewhat noncommittal Tuesday when asked if he wants more influence over personnel decisions following the firing of general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah last month.

Speaking to reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, O'Connell said, "I want ultimately what's best for the organization under the direction of our ownership."

O'Connell continued by insisting that he is satisfied with the organization's overall vision, saying, "I do feel like I have a strong role within the organization as the coach of the team and leading our coaching staff. But at the same time, I do feel like the essence of what our ownership feels very strongly about is in total alignment with how I view healthy, good organizations making great decisions and building good football teams."

O'Connell was hired as head coach of the Vikings just a few weeks after Adofo-Mensah was named GM in 2022.

Since that time, the Vikings have had their fair share of ups and downs. They went 13-4 and won the NFC North in 2022 before dropping to 7-10 in 2023. Then they bounced back with a 14-3 record in 2024, only to fall to 9-8 last season.

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It can be argued that the team's quarterback situation has been the biggest reason for the inconsistency, as the Vikings have cycled through several signal-callers during O'Connell's tenure.

Kirk Cousins started all 17 games for the Vikings in 2022, but he got injured midway through the 2023 campaign, resulting in Joshua Dobbs, Nick Mullens and Jaren Hall making starts.

Minnesota signed Sam Darnold in free agency during the ensuing offseason, and he went on to start all 17 games in 2024, as the Vikes returned to the playoffs.

Rather than re-signing Darnold after a career year, the Vikings let him leave in free agency, opting instead to go with 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy, who missed his entire rookie season due to a knee injury.

McCarthy went through a ton of growing pains last season and also dealt with injuries. He started 10 games, but Carson Wentz and Max Brosmer also received significant playing time.

As for Darnold, he signed with the Seattle Seahawks in free agency and went on to win a Super Bowl in his first season with the organization.

It is fair to wonder if things would have been different for the Vikings in 2025 with Darnold under center, and if the decision to let it walk contributed heavily to the firing of Adofo-Mensah.

For now, Rob Brzezinski is essentially serving as Minnesota's interim GM, and a full-time hire will be made following the 2026 NFL draft.

An ability and willingness to collaborate with O'Connell will undoubtedly be a prerequisite to getting the job, but it isn't yet known how much decision-making power the new GM will have to cede to O'Connell, if any.