Contract Extension Possible for Kevin O’Connell; What About Kwesi Adofo-Mensah?

The Minnesota Vikings are in the midst of one of the most important offseasons in recent franchise history, probably going back to the 2021-22 offseason, when they fired head coach Mike Zimmer and President of Football Operations, Rick Spielman and went on the hunt for new leaders both in the front office and on the football field.

Related: Vikings Infatuated with Top-50 Toledo Cornerback Balling Out at Senior Bowl Practices

Speaking of that summer, it sounds like the Wilf family is happy with the decision they made to hire Kevin O’Connell, even as they watched the candidate they let get away, Jim Harbaugh, win a National Championship at Michigan.

Minnesota Vikings planning extension for head coach Kevin O’Connell?

How do we know that for sure, especially given some of the opinions of KOC that float around social media? Well, rich people usually put their money with their brain is. And if that’s the case at TCO Performance Center this offseason, it may not only be Justin Jefferson, Kirk Cousins or even Danielle Hunter who winds up getting paid.

Instead, Darren “Doogie” Wolfson (SKOR North, KSTP) said on today’s Scoops edition of the Mackey & Judd Show that he’s hearing it could be the Vikings’ head coach who gets more security and a much deeper bank account.

"I absolutely can see a contract extension for Kevin before the season starts" 👀

– @DWolfsonKSTP on the prospect of a contract extension for KOC before next season pic.twitter.com/a36L4PSNDm

— SKOR North – Minnesota Sports (@SKORNorth) February 1, 2024

Judd: “What do you sense with Kevin getting a four year contract — and by the way the Carolina and Seattle guys first year coach themselves got six years — what is your sense on the potential for an O’Connell extension this off season…?”… “I don’t think it’s discussed enough that the Vikings gave their head coach and GM relatively short term contracts.”

Wolfson: “I’m glad you brought this up. I can see a contract extension happening before the start of the season; that they love him that much.”

Mackey & Judd – SKOR North

What about Kwesi Adofo-Mensah?

Remember, though, not only did Minnesota Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah hired into the organization during the same offseason as Kevin O’Connell, he was hired first and played a large part in the process that landed KOC as head coach.

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So, Judd asks Doogie a very pertinent question. Kwesi has the same 4-year contract as O’Connell. Does he get an extension too? On that, Wolfson wasn’t sure, noting he could see that going either way. But reiterates again that he “can see a contract extension happening before the start of the season” because they “love him so much”.

Judd: “For both or just for Kevin?”

Wolfson: “For sure Kevin. Not sure on Kwesi. I mean, maybe they’re attached, in that regard. They don’t have the same representation, but maybe they are. But Kevin, yes, I actually can see a contract extension for Kevin before the season starts, yes.”

Mackey & Judd – SKOR North

There will be those in the fanbase who will certainly convey their frustration with Minnesota Vikings ownership, should they move to extend Kevin O’Connell. But the fanbase might riot if an extension is announced for Kwesi Adofo-Mensah too — the same GM who has flopped on draft picks like Lewis Cine and failed to extend Kirk Cousins last offseason, among a host of other bumps in his early road as leader of this front office — the fanbase might riot.