Old Reliable Exec Will Run MN Vikings Draft

On Friday, the Minnesota Vikings made a shocking front-office move, firing general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. Despite renewing his contract last season, a 9-7 record built through significant offseason spending ultimately wasn’t enough to satisfy ownership.

Now, Zygi and Mark Wilf must select a new leader to guide their franchise. Surprisingly, however, they aren’t rushing the process. Instead, key months of the calendar will pass with Rob Brzezinski stepping into expanded responsibilities.

Rob Brzezinski Earns New Responsibilities for Minnesota Vikings

With 34 NFL seasons under his belt, 28 of them with the Minnesota Vikings, few individuals know the organization or the league better than Rob Brzezinski. As Executive Vice President of Football Operations, Brzezinski will now oversee both free agency and the NFL Draft.

The #Vikings announce General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has been relieved of his duties. pic.twitter.com/JYUHgjbU5x

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) January 30, 2026

Effective immediate, Executive Vice President of Football Operations Rob Brzezinski will lead our operations through the 2026 NFL Draft. Rob brings tremendous credibility and experience, understands our roster and has the ability to build consensus and rely on the expertise of our personnel and coaches. After the draft, we intend to conduct a thorough search to identify our next general manager. Building a team that can contend for championships drives us every day, and we look forward to bringing our fans the success they so deserve.

Mark and Zygi Wilf – Minnesota Vikings

It’s no surprise that Brzezinski remains a central figure in the operation. He has helped the Minnesota Vikings navigate salary-cap constraints for years and will once again face that challenge this offseason, with the team sitting nearly $49 million over the cap. What is surprising is that the next general manager will not be involved in several of the franchise’s most important upcoming decisions.

Legal tampering begins March 9, with NFL free agency officially opening on March 11. The NFL Draft follows on April 24. While Minnesota has only months before those pivotal dates, the team’s next general manager will not be a participant in the process.

The search for a new GM will go down after the draft. Like most teams in this position, expect a pivot, likely the opposite of what they just had. I’d expect an older school type with a strong scouting background, someone rooted in traditional evaluation and personnel building.

— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) January 30, 2026

It’s a curious decision given the current state of the roster. Head coach Kevin O’Connell is working with a young quarterback who has yet to fully produce, alongside an aging roster that may be nearing the end of its competitive window. For now, O’Connell will seemingly wield significant influence alongside Brzezinski. Hopefully, the next leader of the franchise is prepared to align quickly once they’re put in place.

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