Brace Hemmelgarn-Imagn Images

Former controversial Vikings NFL Draft pick takes major step forward to resuming his NFL career

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Tyler Forness | Last updated Mar 22, 2025 8:26 AM ET

The quarterback position has been a very contentious one for the Minnesota Vikings over the last decade. It started when Teddy Bridgewater dislocated his knee during that fateful practice ahead of the 2016 season and it spiraled out of control.

It began with a trade for Sam Bradford to Case Keenum's magical 2017 season and it led to the signing of Kirk Cousins. During that time, there was a lot of discussion about the potential of finding a franchise quarterback and they made a couple of attempts at trying to find one.

Kellen Mond named starter for San Antonio Brahams

One of those players was quarterback Kellen Mond. The Vikings selected him with the 66th overall pick in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft. They had explored trading up for Justin Fields but they couldn't strike a deal. They waited for the third round and took Mond.

On Friday afternoon, Mond was named the starting quarterback of the San Antonio Brahmas of the United Football League.

Breaking: The San Antonio Brahmas have named Kellen Mond as their starting QB for the 2025 #UFL season, per @GregLuca.

Mond, the former Viking, was one of the biggest acquisitions of any #UFL team this offseason.

Big news for @XFLBrahmas fans as they approach March 29th. pic.twitter.com/Q5Y8EkHPSl
— James Larsen (@JamesLarsenPFN) March 21, 2025

He only threw three passes as a member of the Vikings, all of them in the week 17 game against the Green Bay Packers in the fourth quarter, a game that Cousins missed due to testing positive for COVID-19.

Mond was released after training camp in 2022, head coach Kevin O'Connell's first season with the Vikings. He caught on with the Cleveland Browns but it didn't last. The only game that Mond has played in was that lone game in 2021.

The UFL is the next step for Mond to try and make it back to the NFL. He beat out Kevin Hogan and Jarrett Guarantano for the job.

The UFL season kicks off next weekend.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: