One down, one to go.
With the Vikings extend the contract from coach Kevin O’Connell, the next man in line for a new contract is general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah.
Via NFL Media, talks are underway to reach a new deal with Adofo-Mensah.
The Vikings went first with O’Connell because time was of the essence. If the Vikings and O’Connell were at an impasse, the owners would have had a decision to make: let O’Connell finish his contract and become a free agent who could leave without compensation or pursue a trade before the 2025 seats are up. provided.
And it’s surprising, but also not surprising, that some view the finalization of a deal as proof that there were no problems between O’Connell and the Vikings.
As we said, there were some. Consider this excerpt From the article published by Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com: “O’Connell was unhappy after the 2023 season when owners Zygi and Mark Wilf opted not to extend his contract, ESPN reported, at a time when the franchise planned to start from scratch. quarterback position. Several teams were positioning themselves this month to make trade offers if the sides were unable to agree on an extension, as Fox Sports first reported and ESPN later confirmed, given the possibility that O’Connell can still choose to simply work out his contract and become a coaching free agent in 2025.”
This is why the Vikings acted quickly. This is why we wrote about the urgency to act quicklyand why we pointed out earlier today that, a week after their playoff run ended, there had been no news.
There is now. Contract concluded. Crisis averted. Threat neutralized. Future assured between the Vikings and the man who could become the team’s new Bud Grant, while accomplishing the one thing that eluded the Hall of Fame.
