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The Most Shocking Vikings Offseason Moments of the Last Decade

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Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah stands on the field at U.S. Bank Stadium before a game against the Falcons.
Minnesota Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah surveys the field and pregame activity at U.S. Bank Stadium during warmups ahead of a December 8, 2024 matchup in Minneapolis against the Atlanta Falcons, as the organization prepared for another late-season test under the stadium lights with roster stakes looming. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

The Minnesota Vikings fired Kwesi Adofo-Mensah eight days ago, sending shockwaves through the team’s fan base and thrusting the franchise into a mysterious offseason, with free agency a month away. The decision moved the needle for most shocking offseason moments in franchise history, so here’s a look at items with that criteria over the last decade.

Ranked from five to one, each moment landed with real weight because it reshaped Minnesota’s roster, direction, or identity with the snap of two fingers.

The timing confused some. Why didn’t the Vikings terminate his contract on Black Monday?

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Ranked: The 5 Biggest Vikings Offseason Shocks since 2016

Ranked ascendingly (No. 1 = most shocking moment), the most stunning offseason moments since 2016.

Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins stands on the field before a game at Soldier Field. Vikings shocking offseason moments.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins surveys the field during pregame warmups at Soldier Field, with November 18, 2018 appearing mid-paragraph as Chicago hosted a division matchup. The quiet sideline moment captures Cousins focused and composed before kickoff, framed by a hostile road environment and late-season stakes as Minnesota prepared for the Bears. Mandatory Credit: Quinn Harris-USA TODAY Sports

5. Vikings Win the Kirk Cousins Sweepstakes

In February and March of 2018, a handful of teams pursued Cousins, such as the New York Jets, Denver Broncos, and Arizona Cardinals. Basically every quarterback-needy team explored the Cousins sweepstakes.

And after visiting the 2017 NFC Championship, Minnesota opted to offload Case Keenum to those very Broncos, paving the way for Cousins to sign in Minnesota for an unheard-of guaranteed contract at the time.

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The Vikings had been rumored in the mix for Cousins that offseason, but when they closed the deal, it felt like Minnesota had landed a franchise quarterback for the first time since Daunte Culpepper or Brett Favre.

Cousins stayed in Minnesota for six seasons, leading the club to the postseason twice and tallying one playoff win.

4. Stefon Diggs Traded to BUF

Diggs grew antsy over the Vikings’ run-happy offense, led by head coach Mike Zimmer, and actually asked general manager Rick Spielman for a trade during the 2019 campaign. He went AWOL from the team for a couple of days.

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Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs during a game against the Seahawks in Seattle.
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs lines up during live action at CenturyLink Field, with December 2, 2019 embedded mid-paragraph as Seattle hosted Minnesota. The in-game snapshot reflects Diggs’ involvement in a high-scoring contest that tilted toward the Seahawks, highlighting the intensity and pace of a primetime road environment. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

Spielman told him no during the regular season but pledged to deliver the following offseason. He didn’t renege.

Diggs tweeted that it was time for a new beginning, Spielman shipped him to the Buffalo Bills, and the Vikings used the trade haul to draft Justin Jefferson about a month later.

3. OL Coach Tony Sparano Passes Away

In July 2018, about four months after Minnesota netted Cousins, Sparano was hospitalized with chest pains, which turned out to be a massive heart attack. He passed away three days later.

The news fell out of the sky because no Vikings fan knew that Sparano was sick, and he was a damn good offensive line coach. Minnesota scrambled and promoted Andrew Janocko and Clancy Barone to co-offensive line coach duty.

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The offensive line took a noticeable step back without Sparano in 2018.

2. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah Fired after 4 Seasons

The news that flipped the Vikings’ 2026 offseason on its face.

ESPN’s Kevin Seifert wrote last Friday, “The Minnesota Vikings fired general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah on Friday, a shocking turn after an organization-wide failure to make the playoffs this season. Owners Zygi and Mark Wilf tapped Rob Brzezinski, their longtime executive vice president of football operations, to lead the front office through the 2026 draft. Speaking to reporters Friday,”

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“Mark Wilf would not rule out Brzezinski as a candidate for the permanent general manager job but pledged a “thorough” postdraft search. Wilf said he will “lean toward” a traditional arrangement that would give the next general manager personnel decision-making power with “extremely heavy input” from coach Kevin O’Connell.”

Adofo-Mensah had only connected on about 17%-20% of all draft picks since taking the big job in 2022, fired up strange trades last summer involving Harrison Phillips, Mehki Blackmon, and Adam Thielen, and watched as Sam Darnold trudged to a Super Bowl with the Seahawks in 2025.

Those factors led the Wilfs to fire Adofo-Mensah, albeit about three weeks late by conventional offseason standards. Head coach O’Connell presumably takes center stage as the team’s de facto CEO.

1. Rookie CB Khyree Jackson Killed in Car Accident

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Just over two months after being drafted by the Vikings in the 2024 NFL Draft, Jackson was killed in a Maryland car wreck that took the lives of three people. Jackson’s professional career never got started. The team dedicated the 2024 campaign to him, and his family remains involved in Vikings activities.

Oregon defensive back Khyree Jackson plays coverage against Arizona State.
Oregon Ducks defensive back Khyree Jackson reacts in coverage against Arizona State at Mountain America Stadium, with November 18, 2023 placed mid-paragraph during a late-season Pac-12 matchup in Tempe. The action shot shows Jackson engaged at the point of attack as Oregon’s defense pressed its advantage on the road. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Last month, the driver of the other vehicle, Cori Clingman, was sentenced to three years in prison for her crime.

Prince George County State Attorney Tara Jackson remarked after the sentence, “I hope that she will use this time really to think about her actions and the lives that have been lost, her friends, the lives of her friends that have been lost, and become a more productive member of our community.”

Cllingman issued a statement:: “From the deepest place in my heart, I’m sorry.”


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Tim Seifert’s fifty drives New Zealand to five-wicket T20 World Cup win over Afghanistan | Cricket News

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Tim Seifert's fifty drives New Zealand to five-wicket T20 World Cup win over Afghanistan
New Zealand’s Tim Seifert (PTI Photo/R Senthilkumar)

Tim Seifert’s trademark aggression lit up New Zealand’s chase as they secured a five-wicket win over Afghanistan in their Group D clash of the T20 World Cup on Sunday. Chasing 183, Seifert lived up to his ‘Bam Bam’ nickname with a commanding 65 off 42 balls, striking seven fours and three sixes to keep the chase firmly under control. His innings ensured New Zealand crossed the line with minimal fuss despite an early stumble.

How Mohammed Siraj’s February plans were changed after dream T20 World Cup call

That stumble came courtesy of a brief spell of brilliance from Mujeeb ur Rahman, who removed Finn Allen and Rachin Ravindra in consecutive deliveries in the second over, leaving New Zealand reeling at 14 for two. However, Seifert found the perfect ally in Glenn Phillips, and the duo rebuilt with intent. Their 74-run stand for the third wicket, scored in just 47 balls, turned the momentum decisively in New Zealand’s favour. Seifert brought up his half-century from 39 balls with a towering six off Mohammad Nabi, and as the innings progressed, the pitch offered less assistance to the spinners. Phillips took the attack to Rashid Khan, dispatching him for a four and a six as New Zealand surged ahead. Afghanistan did manage late strikes, with Nabi dismissing Seifert and Rashid accounting for Phillips. Seifert, though, made full use of a reprieve on 48 when Rashid put down a return catch. By the time both batters departed, the job was nearly done, and Daryl Mitchell and Mitchell Santner calmly polished off the remaining 28 runs. Earlier, Afghanistan posted 182 for six, a total that felt slightly under-par on a surface with some slowness. Veteran Gulbadin Naib top-scored with a fluent 63 off 35 balls, while Sediqullah Atal contributed 29 in a third-wicket stand of 79 from 51 deliveries. Despite the partnership, Afghanistan’s innings lacked explosive acceleration. Their progress was steady rather than spectacular, reaching 44 for two in the Power Play, 77 for two at halfway and 130 for three after 15 overs. The final five overs yielded 52 runs, but they would have hoped for more. Rahmanullah Gurbaz looked in good touch before Lockie Ferguson’s slower ball shattered his stumps in the sixth over. In the same over, Ferguson also removed Ibrahim Zadran, using his leg-cutters effectively. Naib reached his fifty in just 29 balls and injected momentum by taking on Jacob Duffy with two sixes and a four. Atal supported well but was dismissed by Duffy, a moment that allowed Naib to combine with Darwish Rasooli for a brisk 33-run stand as Afghanistan crossed 150. However, Naib’s dismissal to Rachin Ravindra in the 18th over stalled the late charge. Azmatullah Omarzai struck a couple of sixes at the end to push Afghanistan past 180, but it was not quite enough against a composed New Zealand chase.

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3 Clear signs Seth Rollins is secretly re-forming The Shield with two WWE stars

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The Road to WrestleMania 42 is expected to feature some major returns in WWE, and Seth Rollins could be one of them. The Visionary is currently on hiatus from the sports entertainment juggernaut due to a real-life injury.

Meanwhile, reports indicate that Rollins’ WWE return may happen soon, and that he will compete against Bron Breakker at The Showcase of the Immortals.

However, there are considerable signs indicating Seth Rollins’ incorporation with Grayson Waller and Austin Theory. In this article, we will be looking at three signs that Seth Rollins is secretly re-forming The Shield with Waller and Theory in WWE.


#3. The return of the mystery man in WWE

Grayson Waller was the man in the black hoodie who attacked Bron Breakker at the Royal Rumble. Seth Rollins didn’t make the trip to Saudi Arabia. While many expect Rollins to be the final reveal, it was Waller under the black hoodie on Saturday. (via @HighSpotPodcast)

One of the major signs that Seth Rollins is re-forming The Shield is the return of the mystery man at the Royal Rumble. When the mystery attacker destroyed Bron Breakker before the Rumble match, Paul Heyman shouted Seth Rollins’ name despite his absence from the show.

Latest reports suggest that Grayson Waller could be the person behind that black-hooded figure. Although there is no confirmation, WWE likely wants to link Waller and Rollins through this mystery man angle.

In the upcoming weeks, Grayson could be revealed as the mystery man who attacked the new Big Dog on Seth Rollins’ orders. This could lead to a new faction’s origin on Monday Night RAW, with the group on a mission to end The Vision.

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#2. The connection between Grayson Waller & Austin Theory

Austin Theory is currently a member of The Vision. However, his incorporation into the heel group remains a topic of debate, with fans predicting he is a mole planted by The Visionary.

In late 2023, Rollins and Theory were part of an alliance and worked together. It’s crucial to note that before the A-Town Down star returned as a heel, he was paired with Waller on television.

Soon, Theory disappeared from the company, and WWE announced their breakup in a backstage segment. With Waller’s name seemingly part of the mystery man storyline, it will not be a surprise if Theory and Grayson are secretly reunited and now working for Seth Rollins.


#1. Seth Rollins always has a Plan B

The Architect is the one who betrayed Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose to end The Shield. He joined Triple H’s Authority faction and emerged as one of the major heel stars in World Wrestling Entertainment.

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The history of Seth proves he always has a Plan B. With Bron Breakker and The Vision betraying the former World Heavyweight Champion, he might have Austin Theory and Grayson Waller as part of Plan B.

If that theory is true, it’s a clear sign that Rollins is secretly re-forming The Shield with these two stars.