The Vikings are 4-6, staring at a year without meaningful January football. There have been miscalculations in roster building. Draft misses are piling up. Free agent signings have not delivered. And the quarterback the franchise targeted as its future is playing like the least productive passer in the league. So the next question is obvious. Will anyone be held accountable when the season ends?
How Power Actually Works Inside the Vikings Building
Start with the hierarchy. Owners Zygi and Mark Wilf call the shots. Though they are a relatively hands-off group, it’s known that they have strong feelings about several key Vikings decision-makers. Starting with Chief Operating Officer Andrew Miller, who remains one of the most trusted voices in the organization. It would be a surprise if this season changed how the Wilfs felt about Miller’s long-term status.
The Wilfs are also likely fully committed to head coach Kevin O’Connell. The head coach should be viewed as the face of the franchise. He resonates with ownership. He has full credibility in the building. And if Minnesota ever let him go, he would be hired immediately somewhere else. O’Connell’s job is not in jeopardy.
Then comes general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, who signed a lucrative multiyear extension this summer. He is not viewed as a short-term figure. Under him are two assistant general managers: Ryan Grigson and Demetrius Washington. Both received promotions in June. Their influence on personnel decisions is significant.
So is anyone on the chopping block? It would make sense for the Wilfs to ask pointed questions once the season ends, but a sweeping front office firing seems unlikely. The more likely outcome would be additional support. A consultant. Another former GM in an advisory role. A reassessment of process rather than a clean break.
If a head rolls, it would not be O’Connell. And it almost certainly would not be the general manager. The most vulnerable positions lie deeper in the personnel department, but even is unlikely.
Minnesota Vikings Draft Misses and Free Agent Whiffs
There is no way to evaluate this roster without addressing the draft. The Vikings have made nearly 30 selections under Adofo-Mensah and only two are unquestioned hits: receiver Jordan Addison and rookie guard Donovan Jackson. Dallas Turner and J.J. McCarthy remain unknowns. Several picks, including cornerback Mekhi Blackmon and guard Ed Ingram, are now thriving for other teams. Others have stalled out entirely.
“He’s able to go out and get the reps in games and show immediate improvement on things” – Head Coach Kevin O’Connell on @D_jack78 pic.twitter.com/NeP8SVx69i
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) November 19, 2025
Even more concerning is the top-heavy nature of these misses. The Vikings have drafted 10 players in rounds one through three since 2022, and only Addison and Jackson are undeniable contributors. For a franchise leaning heavily on rookie classes to support a win-now window, that is a glaring issue.
Free agency has not delivered either. The Wilfs spent nearly a quarter of a billion dollars last spring, and outside of linebacker Eric Wilson, the return has been minimal. Veterans have underperformed. Some have regressed. Others have struggled to stay healthy. Even returning players like Harrison Smith and Byron Murphy Jr. have not produced enough to justify the broader strategy of doubling down on experience.
The roster issues are real. The questions ownership will ask are valid. But miscalculations alone do not signal incoming firings.
Quarterback J.J. McCarthy Could Become the Scapegoat
When the dust settles in January, all signs point to continuity. Given their history, the Wilfs will likely maintain the current organizational structure. Mike Zimmer and Rick Spielman, the previous coach/GM duo, led the Vikings for eight seasons. O’Connell remains the defining voice of the franchise. Adofo-Mensah is protected by a fresh contract and organizational belief. Assistant GMs may be evaluated, but sweeping change is unlikely.
The uncomfortable truth is this. If anyone takes the fall, it will be McCarthy. The Vikings rank 27th in PFSN’s OFFi. McCarthy is 35th among 38 qualified passers.
It will not be immediate. It will not be framed as a demotion. It will be framed as a competition when a veteran quarterback arrives in March. The messaging will emphasize development, urgency, and resetting expectations. But behind the scenes, McCarthy’s performance this offseason may determine whether O’Connell’s seat stays cold or begins to warm.
READ MORE: 3 Midseason Truths Reveal Why the Vikings Offense Is Stalling as J.J. McCarthy Struggles
The head coach’s future hinges on whether the quarterback he attached his reputation to improves. The front office’s future hinges on whether the quarterback they traded up for becomes the player they believed he could be. McCarthy’s accuracy issues, lower-body mechanics, slow processing, and durability concerns have already shaped the narrative of this season.
The question remains whether the initially high expectations for this season will force the Vikings to change their once-hopeful strategy.
