The Minnesota Vikings are in the midst of an important search for their next general manager. With several candidates lined up for Zoom interviews, it’s a vital step in the process to replace Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, and head coach Kevin O’Connell will likely have an eye on who his next partner will be in the team’s collaborative culture.
While O’Connell has downplayed his role in the search, KSTP-TV’s Darren Wolfson refuted that claim and made it sound like his role is exactly what some Vikings fans figured it would be when Adofo-Mensah was fired.
“My understanding is that [Kevin O’Connell] – no surprise, I don’t think this will be a surprise – is heavily involved,” Wolfson said during an appearance on SKOR North’s Purple Daily on Thursday. “I don’t know if I can quantify how heavily but KOC is part of the Zoom interviews. His voice carries plenty of weight.”
Kevin O’Connell’s role in the Minnesota Vikings' general manager search is bigger than he’s letting on
Wolfson’s comments suggest that O’Connell was underselling his role in the search when speaking to reporters at last week’s rookie minicamp. When asked about his involvement, O’Connell said he was available for whatever the Wilf family and Vikings chief operating officer Andrew Miller needed during the search but would defer most of the specifics to that group.
“First and foremost with respect to the process, it’s currently ongoing. I would defer everything to ownership and Andrew Miller as that process is ongoing,” O’Connell said. “I’m excited for potentially forming that relationship, going through the process and have much of a part as ownership and Andrew want me to be a part of it, I will and I’m very much looking forward to a great outcome which I know we’re going to get.”
While O’Connell sounded like he would be grateful to just be in the room for the Zoom interviews, there’s more to suggest he’s near the head of the table. Wolfson noted that O’Connell has direct connections with four of the nine external candidates for the job and current interim general manager Rob Brzezinski.
Detroit Lions assistant general manager Ray Agnew and Los Angeles Rams assistant GM John McKay spent time with O’Connell during his time as the Rams’ offensive coordinator in the 2020 and 2021 seasons. San Francisco 49ers general manager RJ Gillen also spent time with O’Connell during his time with the team in 2016, and Miami Dolphins assistant GM Kyle Smith also worked with O’Connell when he was quarterbacks coach for the Washington Commanders in 2017 and 2018.
It’s also notable that SI’s Albert Breer reported that Los Angeles Chargers assistant general manager Chad Alexander "respectfully declined” the team’s request for an interview on Friday. While qualified after working for the Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets, and Chargers, he has no direct ties to O’Connell.
Mix in the facts that Adofo-Mensah was largely fired because he did not align with O’Connell and the rest of the coaching staff, and that O’Connell just got done working an entire offseason with Brzezinski as interim general manager, and it seems like his hole in the search more than the “Aw, shucks,” answer he gave one week ago.
O’Connell has earned that right after building a culture that has captured the imagination of the Wilfs. There’s also a chance that last year’s campaign, where O’Connell guided the Vikings to five straight wins to end the year with a 9-8 record, may have been more beneficial than the 13-win season in 2022 and the 14-win season in 2024.
While Wolfson’s comments are more speculation, it’s in line with what many have expected this search to be, and O’Connell may have a much bigger role than he’s letting on.
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