Brave New World: Who the Vikings should hire

 

Since the firings of Head Coach Mike Zimmer and General Manager Rick Spielman, the Minnesota Vikings have conducted several interviews, looking for the next forerunners to lead the franchise into the next era.

The next regime will have several questions to answer: What to do with Kirk Cousins? How to rebuild the defense? What can be done with the offensive line?

While many writers rightfully consider the Minnesota Vikings to be an attractive landing spot for aspiring coaches and executives, it’s clear that work is still cut out for them here in the North Star State.

To that end, I’ve identified who I want in the big chairs:

Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, Vice President of Football Operations for the Cleveland Browns

Adofo-Mensah is one of the most sought-after GM candidates this cycle, and for good reason. An ex-denizen of Wall Street, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah spent nine seasons helping to build the San Francisco 49ers into Super Bowl contenders before being poached by Cleveland Browns General Manager Andrew Berry. Looking at his resume, it’s clear to see how valued his input is with many in executive circles.

The Vikings should be looking at young, radical thinkers for their open positions. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah brings that. The analytic-based decision making processes that he’s been a part of during his relatively young NFL career have rightfully garnered a lot of interest from a lot of different teams. The Cleveland Browns, longtime bottom feeders in this league, are now looked at as an example of an organization at the razor’s edge of talent evaluation, and Adofo-Mensah has had his fingerprints on that.

But his experience is varied. In his own words, he’s spent considerable amount of time rubbing shoulders with coaches and scouts who have long and storied careers within the professional league. Guys like John Lynch, Kyle Shanahan, Mike McDaniel, and Ran Carthon.

He’s straddled the line between the traditionally successful and the radical & new. There’s no reason to believe he wouldn’t be able to build a similar, successful process here in Minnesota.

List of notable draft picks Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has been associated with:

-          DeForest Buckner

-          George Kittle

-          Mike McGlinchey

-          Deebo Samuel

-          Nick Bosa

-          Greg Newsome II

-          Jedrick Wills, Jr.

-          Donovan Peoples-Jones

 

Brian Daboll, Offensive Coordinator for the Buffalo Bills



Brian Daboll’s done good work.

His guidance of Josh Allen resulting in a resurgent Buffalo Bills franchise has garnered the attention and praise of many, and rightfully so.  Coming out of college, Allen was seen as an intriguing, albeit very raw, prospect at the quarterback position. I’m always interested in the coaching behind raw prospects, and quarterback is one of the most challenging positions to coach.

Josh Allen’s steadily improved since being drafted, and has completed this season with 36 touchdowns at the helm of a very talented Bills squad.

But Daboll’s success hasn’t been limited to Buffalo. In one season with Tony Sparano’s Miami Dolphins, Daboll coordinated an offense that went from 30th in the league, up ten spots to 20th. That season, the Dolphins top passer was Matt Moore, although Chad Henne stepped in for four starts as well.

In addition to coaching Tua Tagovailoa and Jalen Hurts in college, Brian Daboll took home five super bowl rings in varying stints with the New England Patriots. He was part of Bill Belichick’s first staff with the Patriots, joining up in 2000. He served in varying roles under Belichick, coaching wide receivers, tight ends, and even assisted on the defense from 2000-01. He’s a well rounded coach with experience all over the offense.

Daboll won the Associated Press NFL Assistant Coach of the Year award after the 2020 season.

Comments

  1. AnonymousFebruary 21, 2022 at 8:08 PM

    Good insight. I wonder if that Wallstreet experience will give Kwesi an advantage

    ReplyDelete

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