Report: KOC was Overruled on 2025 Vikings QB Decisions
The Minnesota Vikings are being very careful as they wade through the 2026 NFL offseason — a much different strategy than we saw from the free-spending 2025 Kwesi Adofo-Mensah led Vikings from one year ago.
However, the main offseason mission remained pretty similar. Once again, the Vikings were in search of a veteran quarterback who could come in and, at the least, compete with JJ McCarthy for the starting QB job, if not take it from him, upon arriving in Eagan.
Not only did they find that guy, in Kyler Murray, but they got him for $1.3 million, due to Arizona footing $35 million of the bill. In all likelihood, Murray’s signing means McCarthy will be watching from the sideline in 2026, as long as Kyler is healthy.
Same Minnesota Vikings offseason mission, different result
While the goal last offseason was the same, the outcome was far different. Instead of bringing in a reliable veteran with high-level QB experience in the NFL, the Vikings traded for Sam Howell — who somehow found a way to be worse than McCarthy, Max Brosmer and Brett Rypien during 2025 training camp.
It didn’t have to be like that. The Minnesota Vikings pretty much had their choice of quarterbacks last offseason, between Sam Darnold, Daniel Jones and Aaron Rodgers. All they had to do was commit to and pay one of them, which they were never willing to do.
Since then, we’ve been left to wonder who made the final call on last offseason’s QB questions. Was it head coach Kevin O’Connell (AKA: the QB killer) who ultimately decided to roll with McCarthy and Howell for 2025, or was it the since-fired Kwesi Adofo-Mensah.
Well, it appears we may finally have an answer to those questions..
Kwesi Adofo Mensah overruled Kevin O’Connell last offseason
During a recent episode of PFT Live, ProFootballTalk’s Mike Florio revealed that, according to his sources, it was indeed the Minnesota Vikings’ former GM who “overruled” O’Connell and chose not to seriously pursue, Darnold, Jones or Rodgers, if it meant leading them to believe they’d win the starting job over McCarthy.
Mike Florio reported on a recent episode of @ProFootballTalk Live that KOC was "overruled" during the Vikings' 2025 offseason QB search — that he wanted Darnold, Jones and Rodgers but didn't have a choice but to role with JJ McCarthy and Sam Howell.
— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) March 19, 2026
"As I understand it,… pic.twitter.com/V41D2v7SJj
“As I understand it, O’Connell got overruled. He wanted to have Darnold or Jones or Aaron Rodgers, and he got overruled. They said no to Rodgers. Rodgers wanted to play for them last year, and they said no. They’re sticking with JJ McCarthy.
And Jones is really the one that, I think, galled O’Connell the most because, I think, they thought they had something potentially special with Jones. The way I heard it, there was a chance Darnold was going to get benched during the playoffs last year for Daniel Jones. They put him on the active roster late in the regular season for a reason.”
Mike Florio – PFT Live
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Assuming Florio is right, we now know the real reason why Kwesi Adofo-Mensah was fired so late into the cycle this offseason. Unless it was the Wilfs who “overruled” O’Connell — which is highly unlikely — the owners sat down with KOC and other important employees around the organization after the season, and came to the conclusion that last year’s QB disaster fell on the shoulders of the GM.
Kevin O’Connell wanted to make sure the Minnesota Vikings retained one of the three veterans who were all but begging to come or stay, including the latest Super Bowl Champion. And if you believe Florio, then 2025 would’ve been a heck of a lot different, had KOC and Rob Brzezinski been in charge one year ago, like they are now.
Minnesota Vikings nearly benched Sam Darnold for Daniel Jones?
The tidbit that Florio had on how much the Vikings liked Daniel Jones shouldn’t be overlooked, either. Given how they let Darnold walk, in large part due to how poorly he played in his final two games in purple, it’s not that far fetched to think O’Connell was on the verge of benching him for Jones during their 2025 playoff loss to LA.
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