Kick 'Em Out 2025: Minnesota Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings rallied for a winning record but had to watch their ousted quarterback win a Super Bowl.

Turn out the lights, the party’s over.

With a little help from Willie Nelson, former NFL quarterback and narrator Don Meredith would routinely herald closing time before it was cool on the original editions of Monday Night Football. Alas for all but one of football’s 32 finest, it’s over before the desired Vince Lombardi Trophy hoist, as the season, or at least the championship-contending portion of it, has come to an end.

With that in mind, TeamFB7 goes over the season that was for the fallen, looking at what was, what is, and what could be. The series returns to the NFC for this next segment, which turns to the would-be conquests of the Minnesota Vikings …

J.J. McCarthy Minnesota Vikings — David Berding/Getty Images

Team: Minnesota Vikings
Record: 9-8
Date of Playoff Death: Dec. 14
Last Playoff Season: 2024

What Went Wrong

Sam I Am? More like Sam, They Were.

Minnesota built what had to be one of the most bittersweet seasons in NFL history in 2024: Sam Darnold guided the team to 14 wins but a loss in the wild card round was enough to re-commit to the J.J. McCarthy era, whose start was delayed when the 10th overall pick and Rose Bowl MVP missed his whole rookie campaign due to injury. With that in mind, the Vikings let Darnold walk to Seattle with little resistance, even with a potential franchise tagging on the table.

McCarthy had a flair for the dramatics: he led the Vikings to a comeback victory over the rival Chicago Bears in Week 1 … and after that, it was a huge question over whether he would be on the field. McCarthy dealt with various ailments (including an ankle sprain and a couple of injuries to his throwing hand) throughout the 2025 campaign, preventing him from getting into any form of rhythm.

When he was on the field, his time overseeing the offense was defined by questionable decisions and holding onto the ball for far too long. That was a problem for each Minnesota thrower, as Vikings quarterbacks were taken down on 11 percent of their snaps this season.

Head coach Kevin O'Connell of the Minnesota Vikings looks on against the Detroit Lions during the first quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium on December 25, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. — Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)

With McCarthy’s participation a frequent coin flip, the Vikings were forced to turn to an ineffective Carson Wentz and undrafted rookie Max Brosmer, whose limited reps prevented him from taking advantage of weaponry like Jordan Addison and Justin Jefferson. Pass-happy supervisor Kevin O’Connell kept trying to force the issue through the air, despite trade arrival Jordan Mason filling in respectably for an injured Aaron Jones.

Despite such shortcomings, O’Connell survived the chopping block though general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah wasn’t so lucky, as he was bid farewell after four seasons. It’s easy to see why, as Darnold wasn’t the only difference from 2024’s bittersweetness.

Vikings’ statement on Kwesi Adofo-Mensah: pic.twitter.com/TCkiHpirD7
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 30, 2026

The Vikings let safety Camryn Bynum (equally renowned for his celebration choreography as well as his defense) move on to Indianapolis and his replacements in secondary (i.e. Byron Murphy on a new three-year deal in his Pro Bowl follow-up, Josh Metellus in an expanded role) somewhat struggled to make up for the loss: despite an otherwise respectable effort, Minnesota’s defense mustered but eight interceptions this time around after leading the league in aerial takeaways the year before.

Adofo-Mensah was further done in by struggles on the offensive line (i.e. injuries to Indianapolis transfer Ryan Kelly) but defensive front seven newcomers Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave also left something to be desired. Philadelphia depth star Isaiah Rodgers at least took advantage of his first consistent starting role but that (as well as a late five-game winning streak) was far from enough to buy Adofo-Mensah more time.

Silver Linings

—For all his final flaws, Adofo-Mensah at least appeared to have provided the Vikings a bit of a foundation in his final drafts, at least in the early portions : with selections at a bit of a premium after the multi-pronged leap to select edge man Dallas Turner (who showed undeniable signs of progress after a trying rookie season), some saw the selection of Ohio State guard Donovan Jackson as a bit redundant after spending bit on an Indianapolis raid for Kelly and Will Fries. But after overcoming an early wrist ailment, Jackson flashed some early potential as an antidote to the Vikings’ protection issues. True to cursed Minnesota fashion, Jackson’s breakout is a bit of a silver lining to another mid-spring misfire, as the Houston-based breakout of 2022 second-round washout Ed Ingram, chosen before James Cook and Nik Bonitto, had to sting. But Jackson has the makings of a lasting starter and soothes the blow of passing on further defensive talents at the last draft.

#Vikings rookie OL Donovan Jackson this season:

• 795 Snaps
• 2 Sacks Allowed
• 26 QB Pressures Allowed
• 5 QB Hits Allowed
• 4 Penalties pic.twitter.com/Fgm2HsAGip
— VikingzFanPage (@vikingzfanpage) January 9, 2026

—At the risk of breaking his most hallowed rule(s), Tyler Durden once quipped that “it’s only after we’ve lost everything that we’re free to do anything.” Many a mirage has dominated the damned slates of doomed NFL teams but the Vikings’ final surge, a five-game winning streak that saw them put solid defensive showings against certain competition (i.e. Dallas, Detroit on Christmas Day) that was fighting for its futile postseason fortune. Combine that with the fact that a dreary start was perhaps a near-certainty with all the early injuries (i.e. Blake Cashman, Ty Chandler, Andrew Van Ginkel) and it feels like the Vikings were always due for a late push beyond whatever issues faced them at the franchise quarterback spot. The final spots aren’t guaranteed harbingers of success but there were hints of sustainability what with a healthier squad and a better focus on running the ball: with the Jones-Mason tandem together, Minnesota ran the ball fifth most in the league over the final five. They were 30th in the same department over the first dirty dozen.

Looking Ahead

Notable Free Agents: LS Andrew DePaola, FB CJ Ham, CB Fabian Moreau, WR Jalen Nailor, CB Jeff Okudah, LB Ivan Pace Jr., DT Jalen Redmond, S Harrison Smith, QB Carson Wentz, LB Eric Wilson

Potential Cap Cuts: RT Brian O’Neill ($19.4 million), LB Jonathan Greenard ($18.8 million*), TE TJ Hockenson ($15.9 million*), DE Jonathan Allen ($11.2 million*), DL Javon Hargrave ($10.9 million), C Ryan Kelly ($8.3 million), LB Blake Cashman ($7.6 million*), RB Aaron Jones ($7.75 million*), LT Blake Brandel ($3.8 million*)

Desperate to atone for his draft day disasters—his original draft pick, 2022’s final first-round choice Lewis Cine, was just released by the United Football League’s DC Defenders—Adofo-Mensah handed big contracts left and right. It bought temporary success but now the Vikings find themselves in a dire cap situation, one where they needed to shed at least $40 million just to get back under.

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) catches a pass for a 10-yard gain as Detroit Lions defensive back Rock Ya-Sin (23) defends during the fourth quarter of a NFL game between the Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions on December 25, 2025, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. — Photo by Nick Wosika/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Some of that could be resolved in-house, such as asking Jefferson to restructure the contract that makes him the highest-paid non-quarterback in the current NFL. A trade is also possible: some have already tried to link Jefferson one of his college supporters, as ex-LSU offensive overseer Joe Brady is now the head coach in Buffalo and it’s time to start considering Addison’s first extension. But Minnesota is already backed into a corner that will force it to bid farewell to some of the staples of the 2020s.

Continuity would be a key ingredient in ensuring that last season’s final surge becomes more of a norm than a mirage but that might not be possible beyond a larger cap expansion. That will put pressure on the new GM to nail his first draft, where the Vikings have a full contingent of picks after choosing just five in the aftermath of the Turner leap. The dark side of the streak somewhat manifests on the first round board, as the Vikings are picking 18th, the last of the non-playoff teams, in Pittsburgh this April.

J.J. McCarthy over the last two weeks:

🟣 2-0 record
🟡 73.3% adjusted comp %
🟣 448 total yards
🟡 6 total TDs, 1 INT
🟣 120.3 passer rating https://t.co/MumEvlhzgU pic.twitter.com/v3VmLeUB86
— PFF (@PFF) December 15, 2025

Ultimately, the Vikings rise or fall based on what transpires under center, where presents the most uncomfortable situation of all: most signs suggest that they should move on from McCarthy (after so eagerly showing Darnold the door), but the Vikings likely aren’t ready to give up on such a massive investment. Normally a meager quarterback market would mean McCarthy’s safe, but O’Connell is best-known for his Washington/Minnesota success with Kirk Cousins … who just may be in line for a change of scenery after a rollercoaster tour of Atlanta.

Is There Hope?

There has to be: Darnold’s Seahawks proved that a traditional defensive shutdown effort may not be pretty, but the Super Bowl ring it gets you certainly is. Minnesota is one of the teams banking on such a relatively revolutionary concept working: Seattle has made it work, the Cleveland Browns have not. The Vikings sit somewhere in an unsavory limbo that makes it hard to truly appreciate the surging end to last season.

Placing the load of success entirely on a quarterback is so tiring, even in this offensive renaissance. But when your defense appears in the top 10 of almost every major category and still misses out on the postseason party, it’s worth checking out the scales. Even when a new decision-maker comes in, it’s likely that the Vikings, namely O’Connell (who has made a career out of saving young throwers from a passing inferno), still won’t be in a spot where they’re ready to admit their McCarthy mistake, especially considering he was one of the staunchest advocates to stick with the Michigan alum during his rehab.

There’s enough for the Vikings to embark on a conquest: despite the potential financially-induced departures, the defense is in a solid spot, and there’s the obvious advantage of throwing to Addison and Jefferson. But loyalty is an expensive gift … and the Vikings may be ready to break the bank in good ways and bad for McCarthy.