Daily Norseman
An Examination of the Record to Date
I enthusiastically support the extension for Vikings general manager Kwesi Adolfo-Mensah. Since this view carries as much sway as the vote on what to have for dinner in my own house, a deeper examination is warranted.
I’m aware this viewpoint welcomes some pushback, as the lively thread on the DN article announcing the extension can attest.
Since taking over in 2022, KAM has overseen a franchise that has compiled a 34-17 regular-season record. This ranks 7th out of the 32 NFL teams. The Vikings’ prior 3-year total was 25-24, tied for 15th. Just 34% of teams have made the playoffs 2 out of the past 3 years – the Minnesota Vikings are one of them. Of course, we know those results: 0-2. The team made the playoffs once in the previous 3 years (’19-’21), going 1-1.
Context and nuance matter, so let’s break it all down into key areas.
An absolute home run. The final years of the Rick Spielman era were defined by a palpable…umm….frosty relationship with head coach Mike Zimmer, which cast an enormous cloud over the entire organization. Perhaps that’s too kind – they hated each other, at least towards the end. What most expected was later confirmed and laid bare after the fact. Heck, even Zimmer’s significant other got in on the act. This was on top of his anachronistic coaching style right out of the mid-70s, which only works when the wins come regularly. As soon as they didn’t, the cracks became cavernous. Heck, the criticism even roped in longtime athletic trainer Eric Sugarman (what?). Yeah, the entire scene was not ideal. In hindsight, an implosion of magnificent fashion was inevitable.
KAM comes in and immediately turns the frown upside down. Press conferences with coaches and players immediately revealed a collective sense of relief, like the Sun finally peeking through after a Category 5 hurricane:
“When you can wake up before your alarm goes off and get excited to go and get ready for practice, that’s not a very common thing to happen.” – Adam Thielen
“Players wake up, and they want to come to work. They’re not worried too much. They just wake up and want to play football. That’s the main thing. Young guys are eager to learn. Older guys are able to teach the younger guys. It’s a good overall atmosphere.” – Danielle Hunter
“That’s really what Kevin [O’Connell] is preaching. It’s ‘our.’ We’re in it together. And we’ve got to be about team.” – Kirk Cousins
This culture shift has been reflected in the annual NFLPA Report Card of NFL franchises, where the Vikings ranked #1 (2023), #2 (2024), and #2 (2025). In the latest survey, the Vikings received an A- or better in 10 of 11 categories, and an A+ in the following 4: treatment of families, locker room, head coach, and ownership. Indeed, the Wilfs deserve an enormous amount of credit. In my opinion,...
