Kwesi Adofo-Mensah stands on the sidelines prior to a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers during an NFL International Series game at Croke Park. Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Fired Vikings GM has honest take on decision to let Sam Darnold leave

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports
By Renzo Pocholo Salao | Last updated Jan 31, 2026 9:11 AM ET

Former Minnesota Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is standing by his decision to let Sam Darnold go.

The Vikings announced Friday that the team was firing Adofo-Mensah as GM, a role he had held since January 2022. The 44-year-old faced reporters at a press conference shortly after his departure was announced.

One reporter asked Adofo-Mensah to share his view on the team faltering after moving on from Darnold after the 2024 season. Adofo-Mensah admitted that it was a call that kept him up at night, but one he upholds given the information he had at the time.

“You’re trying to make sure you don’t lock yourselves into what you did and thinking that it’s always right,” Adofo-Mensah said, via Yahoo Sports’ Jack Baer. “And so there are those nights you wake up and stare at the ceiling and ask yourself. I always go back to the process and what we thought at the time. It’s easier to and be revisionist and results-based, but going to think through what we had at the time, I still understand why we did what we did.”

#Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah on the teams decisions to let Sam Darnold walk:

“There are nights you wake up and stare at the ceiling and ask yourself… I always go back to the process and what we thought at the time… I still understand why we did what we did. The results maybe… pic.twitter.com/dr6TuPJyl5
— VikingzFanPage (@vikingzfanpage) January 29, 2026

Adofo-Mensah did acknowledge that the team “could have executed better in certain places” but didn’t pin it to any one decision.

The Vikings opted against using their franchise tag on Darnold during the offseason despite the veteran QB leading Minnesota to a 14-3 record. While the move looks worse in hindsight, the team did have 2024 first-round QB JJ McCarthy ready to step in at the time.

There were also legitimate questions about Darnold’s ability to perform with elevated stakes after he stumbled in his final two outings last season, leading to the Vikings’ quick postseason exit. With Darnold considered the favored quarterback in the Super Bowl in a week’s time, he’s quieted most of his doubters.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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