Minnesota

Vikings

“If anything, [firing Adofo-Mensah] increase the chances that the Vikings will take a big swing at finding a veteran quarterback who could start in 2026,” Seifert writes. With the GM who believed in him gone, it’s likely that McCarthy will enter training camp in a competition for his job in the best-case scenario. His dynasty stock has gone full Anthony Richardson over the last year and he should not be treated as a sure-fire starter in best ball drafts this offseason.

Russini threw cold water on Vikings’ fans wildest dreams, reporting that the Bengals have no intention of trading Joe Burrow. Still, she believes the organization will bring in a veteran quarterback this offseason. That shouldn’t come as earth-shattering news given J.J. McCarthy’s struggles last season. Teammates Justin Jefferson and Aaron Jones went on a media blitz during Super Bowl week that included both of them essentially saying the team should’ve kept Sam Darnold. The Vikings can’t go back in time, but they can be proactive about next season. Kirk Cousins, Aaron Rodgers and Mac Jones come to mind as veteran options that could be available this offseason.

Angelichio served as the tight ends coach under Mike McCarthy in Green Bay for three years. He has been in the NFL for nearly two decades and has held the role of tight ends coach for almost his entire pro coaching career, spanning six teams. He also coached college football at Pitt, making this a homecoming of sorts. He now returns to Pittsburgh for the first offensive coordinator gig of his career. It’s safe to assume that McCarthy will serve as the team’s play-caller.

Angelichio was also the Vikings’ passing game coordinator. It was not the most successful season for the Vikings’ passing game, but Angelichio had been in that role since 2022 with previous success from Sam Darnold’s and Kirk Cousins’ offenses. He worked under Mike McCarthy in Green Bay and McCarthy is going back to familiarity with the long-time NFL tight ends coach. According to Kaboly, Angelichio’s deal could be official as soon as Wednesday; he would become the Steelers’ offensive coordinator with McCarthy calling plays.

As has been the norm in Mike McCarthy’s searches this offseason, Angelichio coached under McCarthy in Green Bay. He’s a long-time NFL tight ends coach who has worked with the Buccaneers, Browns, Commanders, and Panthers in addition to the Vikings and Packers. Angelichio has not called plays since he was the offensive coordinator at (wait for it) Ithaca College in the early 2000s, but he wouldn’t have that pressure with the Steelers as McCarthy is expected to call plays.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported today that Nielsen is being hired as the Vikings’ new defensive run game coordinator, though prior reporting suggested he may also coach the defensive line. He spent the 2025 season as a senior defensive assistant with the Bills. He served as the Jaguars (2024) and Falcons’ (2023) defensive coordinator in recent seasons.

Alexander spent five years in the NFL as a safety before quickly transitioning to coaching. The 41-year-old spent seven seasons in the college ranks before joining the Dolphins as a defensive backs coach in 2021. Brian Flores, the Vikings defensive coordinator, was Miami’s head coach at the time, so the Vikings know who they’re getting in Alexander. He also coached defensive backs with the Steelers and Raiders.

Smith served as the Dolphins offensive coordinator under Mike McDaniel for the last four seasons. He was named the NFL’s top OC in 2023 despite not calling plays in Miami. The 44-year-old coach has worked in the NFL since 2010 with stops in New Orleans, Chicago, Oakland/Las Vegas and Los Angeles (Chargers) as well. Having previously worked as a tight ends coach, offensive line coach and run game coordinator, Smith will assist Kevin O’Connell in run game planning. He previously interviewed for the Eagles offensive coordinator position before they hired Sean Mannion.

This will be effective through the 2026 NFL Draft. Brzezinski has worked with the Vikings since 1999 as the vice president of football administration and later the executive vice president of football operations. He seems likely to have a little lap in the sun here while the Vikings figure out who their next general manager will be. Wikipedia cites a Minneapolis Star-Tribune item that notes: “Brzezinski is known by staff as “Rob Zombie” due to being calm, quiet, and frankly, a downright savage. He is someone Marshawn Lynch would refer to as “Beast Mode.” And of course, you know that’s all true and definitely what was written in the article.

The Vikings signed Adofo-Mensah to a multi-year extension last offseason and sent him to the Senior Bowl earlier this week. The move comes as a major surprise, but per The Athletic’s Alec Lewis, there “had been a lot, a lot, a lot of noise in recent weeks.” Adofo-Mensah was hired as the Vikings’ general manager in 2022 and oversaw the team’s last four free agent and draft classes. His extension came after he helped build the Vikings into a 14-3 team that unexpectedly rode the arm of Sam Darnold to the postseason, but the decision to let Darnold walk in the offseason coupled with the struggles of second-year pick J.J. McCarthy are likely one of a handful of decisions made my Adofo-Mensah that ultimately led to his dismissal. With their GM spot now vacant, the Vikings have even more to figure out heading into an offseason that was already going to be headlined by a quarterback controversy.