On January 30th, three and a half weeks after the end of the 2025 regular season, the Minnesota Vikings fired general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah after four seasons. Reasons for his termination ran rampant, but thanks to ESPN’s Peter Schrager, the cause is known: Adofo-Mensah’s quarterback decision-making was not trustworthy for the long haul.

The firing elevates Kevin O’Connell’s influence, and it compresses the timeline to get the quarterback call right.

Executive vice president of football operations Rob Brzezinski now holds the interim general manager title, and fans will merely hope he’s better in the director’s chair. Fans will get a verdict rather soon, as the NFL’s “legal tampering” period of free agency gets cracking in 10 days.

Schrager’s Explanation Points Back to the Quarterback Bet

Schrager succinctly explains the Vikings’ decision.

Schrager on Kwesi’s Downfall

Speaking to Get Up on ESPN, Schrager explained Adofo-Mensah’s termination: “This was a 14-win team a year ago, and they fired their GM less than 12 months later. And it’s not because of paternity leaves or the relationship with Kevin O’Connell.”

“They fired the GM because he had Sam Darnold, Daniel Jones, and an interested Aaron Rodgers in the building, and he said, ‘No, we’re good with JJ — and Max Brosmer and Carson Wentz are gonna be his backups. They’re not going to make the same mistake twice.”

It’s also worth noting that Adofo-Mensah had an approximate 15%-20% success rate in the draft, which did not help his cause for long-term employment.

The Working Theory — Explained

These are the Cliff Notes of Schrager’s comments, extrapolated with a little flair from VikingsTerritory:

1. Kevin O’Connell recommended the Vikings trade up for Drake Maye in the 2024 NFL Draft. The Vikings tried, but the New England Patriots wouldn’t move off the third overall pick. With O’Connell’s blessing, Minnesota then drafted J.J. McCarthy.
2. After the 2024 campaign, when Sam Darnold delivered 4,319 passing yards and 35 touchdowns, O’Connell urged his boss to re-sign Darnold; Adofo-Mensah didn’t want to spend $33 million per season on a quarterback who played like trash in the two most important games of the season. After all, Adofo-Mensah had drafted McCarthy 11 months prior.
3. O’Connell also nudged his team to re-sign Daniel Jones, but Jones picked the Indianapolis Colts over the Vikings, knowing he could win the starting job over Anthony Richardson, whereas Minnesota seemed committed to McCarthy.
4. Then, O’Connell and Aaron Rodgers had talks about a one-year relationship, but Adofo-Mensah never took the bait.
5. Every step of the way — Maye, Darnold, Jones, and Rodgers — O’Connell came up with the right solution — but was ignored.

That’s what the tea leaves point to — and explain why Adofo-Mensah was fired five days after Darnold helped the Seattle Seahawks win the NFC Championship.

One Chance for O’Connell to Make It Right

All of that said, O’Connell doesn’t have a clean slate. With Adofo-Mensah’s departure, the pressure on O’Connell to deliver results has intensified. Now wielding greater control over roster decisions, the head coach bears full accountability for the team’s performance, and the quarterback situation demands immediate attention — either a full commitment to McCarthy or the identification of a viable alternative.

Entering his fifth year, still seeking his first playoff victory, the 2026 season looms large for O’Connell. A playoff berth feels essential, and a January win could be crucial for his long-term job security, as few coaches survive beyond Year 5 without demonstrating some level of playoff success.

Historically, head coaches rarely outlast the general manager who hired them. Teams that dismiss the GM often move on from the coach shortly thereafter if significant improvement isn’t evident. Recent examples include Tennessee and Carolina, and Miami nearly followed suit before ultimately firing Mike McDaniel.

Minnesota now finds itself in a similar position. A season mired around 6-11 or 7-10, particularly if attributed to a poor quarterback selection, could trigger further organizational changes. Achieving a 9-8 record or better and demonstrating genuine playoff potential likely represents the minimum requirement for stability, especially given ownership’s increased reliance on O’Connell as the primary decision-maker.

Adofo-Mensah Back on His Feet

As a side note, Adofo-Mensah didn’t wallow in unemployment long. The San Francisco 49ers hired him this week, naming him a “personnel executive.” The club will evidently give him a more suitable job title after the draft.

Adofo-Mensah’s stock is low, but the job in San Francisco will keep him relevant and perhaps in the mix to reapply for general manager jobs in a few years.

Per the NFLPA Player Report Card, players assigned Adofo-Mensah an ‘A’ grade in 2025 for his general management.

Manchester City and Arsenal have both seen games moved as a result of the Champions League draw

Manchester City and Arsenal may have been kept in separate halves of the Champions League draw, but the frantic March fixture list looks set to throw up a seismic Saturday night showdown involving both clubs.

Pep Guardiola’s side are battling the Gunners for the Premier League title and the two teams will also meet in the Carabao Cup final next month. The pair could yet meet in the Champions League final, while both remain in the FA Cup ahead of a potential meeting in the latter stages of that competition.

It means the next few weeks and months will be crucial for both clubs, with both still hunting an unprecedented quadruple. And amid all the key dates, another looks to be looming with a fixture quirk plunging both sides into Saturday night action on March 14.

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City face West Ham that day in the capital with the game selected for TNT Sports coverage and handed a 12.30pm kick off slot. But that was under the proviso that the Blues were not away from home in the Champions League on the Wednesday before. UEFA have now confirmed the dates for the last-16 ties and City will visit Real Madrid on Wednesday, March 11, meaning that trip to West Ham will move to 8pm on the Saturday.

Arsenal, meanwhile, were due to host Everton on Sunday, March 15 (2pm). But that game was also subject to being moved to accommodate Champions League fixtures and has been given a new date because the Gunners will face Bayer Leverkusen in Europe on Tuesday, March 17, meaning they cannot play on the Sunday. The Emirates Stadium fixture has moved to Saturday, March 15, with a 5.30pm start.

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That means Arsenal and City are in action on the same day in the same city in what could prove a pivotal evening in the title race given the fixtures are sandwiched between Champions League ties and come a week before the Carabao Cup final.

The Premier League released a statement earlier this week around those two fixtures. It read: “The Premier League confirmed the above fixtures on 21 January (Fixture Amendment 14) and advised UEFA that clubs scheduled to play on Sunday 15 March would not be available to play Champions League fixtures on Tuesday 17 March.

“Unfortunately, UEFA has not been able to provide any guarantees on its scheduling ahead of the draw. As a result, the Premier League now faces the possibility of re-scheduling its fixtures at even shorter notice, at the inconvenience of supporters and clubs.”

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Bryce Heys, the trainer, may have felt tension as Zac Lloyd masterfully took an inside rail run with burgeoning sprinter Banjora at Wednesday’s Rosehill races, but the rider faced no such concerns.

“Plenty of room,” Lloyd said.

“He’s a big horse, so he needs a bit more room than an average horse. He was just going that well he was able to bulldoze his way in there.”

The bold charge succeeded, with the $2.50 top pick shoving aside third-finisher Astronomix ($2.70) to power through on the fence and win by a length from $51 shot Beau Bandit, still keen at the wire.

Lloyd and the gelding had pulled off an identical feat at Gosford in their prior outing, and Heys noted he’d welcome drawing the unbeaten type off the inside.

“He is more than brave,” Heys said.

“Two starts in a row I can’t say he was looking pretty, and that I had any confidence we’d get the result, despite the horse’s ability, but to overcome that twice in a row now, not many can do it.”

The gelding’s probable next target is the 1200m Provincial-Midway Championships qualifier at Gosford March 14, potentially opening doors to the Provincial-Midway Championships Final (1400m) at Randwick in April.

“I was going to go to the Gosford qualifier for the Provincial Midway,” he said.

“The 1400 might be a query, but I thought against that class of horse, he might be alright.”

“Hopefully he ends up in the Provincial-Midway Championship.”

Chris Waller and James McDonald entered the day’s action one win from 500 mutual successes, denied narrowly when Almaaz was beaten a head by Fireball Miss and Soverato caught in the dying stages by Aisle Two.

They face four more bids for the achievement at Friday night’s Canterbury meeting.

Secure the best online bookmakers options for betting on Banjora’s Provincial-Midway Championships qualifier at Gosford.

Running back could quietly become a sneaky need for the Minnesota Vikings, especially if the team makes a cap-related decision on veteran back Aaron Jones this offseason.

Both the Draft and free agency feature some intriguing names, but one of the more fascinating fits could be a hometown prospect to the squad, now that C.J. Ham and Adam Thielen have announced their retirement.

Consider someone with the Twin Cities in his veins, Mr. Emmett Johnson, a runner from Nebraska. Regarded as one of the better backs in the class, Johnson could elevate the running back group for his hometown team.

While chatting with NBC Sports at the Scouting Combine, Johnson commented on the chance of playing for the Vikings, “Hey, man, it would mean a lot. I grew up in the inner city. I lived about 10-15 minutes from U.S. Bank Stadium. I had a great formal meeting with them and (Kevin) O’Connell. I would love to go back home.”

Johnson, 22, attended Academy of Holy Angels in Richfield, MN, where he dominated as a senior, rushing for nearly 2,500 yards and 42 touchdowns en route to earning Minnesota Mr. Football honors. The Golden Gophers didn’t offer him a scholarship, so he headed to Nebraska.

At Nebraska, Johnson had a redshirt year, followed by two solid campaigns in a timeshare with a total of 1,009 yards and three scores on the ground. His breakout season came in 2025, when he accumulated 1,451 rushing yards and added another 370 as a pass-catcher. Johnson scored 15 touchdowns from scrimmage in his final collegiate season.

With numbers like that, it’s no wonder he has drawn buzz ahead of the Draft. ESPN’s Draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. considers him the 3rd-best back in the class, only trailing Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price.

Asked about guys whose skillset he resembles, he responded, “I’ll say a lot of different guys. Barry Sanders is one of them. I’ll go LaDainian Tomlinson, a little bit of (Christian) McCaffrey. In today’s day and age, my coach also coached him, so I feel like the receiving ability from him. And then a little bit of Walter (Payton). Y’all might not know, but if you go watch the tape.”

And then there’s a specific Vikings great he added to that list.

“I grew up a Vikings fan. Just how downhill [Adrian Peterson] was. I feel like if you watch my tape, I finish a lot of my runs moving forward. I feel like the violent part came from AP.”

If the Vikings ultimately acquire him on Day 2 of the Draft and Johnson can come close to any of the names he mentioned, well, the Vikings would be happy about that decision.

PFF’s Trevor Sikkema wrote about the prospect, “His game is built on outstanding vision and elusiveness, highlighted by some of the quickest feet in this class. That allows him to navigate traffic effectively in man- and gap-scheme concepts, where he has posted an elite rushing grade over the past two seasons. Johnson is a natural receiver out of the backfield, and while he shows the mentality for strong pass protection, he could be overpowered at the next level due to his lack of bulk. He also runs with a determined style, consistently displaying high effort and competitive toughness.”

If Jones is, indeed, on the chopping block, the Vikings only have Jordan Mason under contract for the upcoming season. Mason is a solid back, but he needs a sidekick. That’s where Johnson could be the difference-maker. Depth runners Ty Chandler and Zavier Scott are both free agents. The latter is a decent bet for a contract extension.

On the consensus board of NFL Mock Draft Database, Johnson ranks 4th among RBs in the Draft and 77th overall, just a couple of spots under Washington’s Jonah Coleman.

Our own Josh Frey has him as the 3rd RB in the class, writing, “Johnson thrives in zone running schemes, and he was one of the most explosive playmakers out of the backfield in all of college football this season. His 36 carries of 10+ yards tied for sixth in the FBS. He also led all running backs in the FBS with 46 receptions. At 5’11” and 200 pounds, Johnson has a sturdy frame to along with outstanding breakaway speed and ability to change directions on a dime.”

Whether the Vikings ultimately prioritize running back in the middle rounds remains to be seen, but Johnson’s local ties, versatility, and rising draft stock make him an especially compelling fit. For a franchise looking to get younger, cheaper, and more dynamic in the backfield, a hometown prospect with three-down upside could check multiple boxes at once.

If the board falls the right way on Day 2 or early Day 3, the idea of bringing a Twin Cities native back home might be too appealing for Minnesota to ignore.

Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.

Janik Eckardt is a German sports nerd, who likes numbers and stats. He chose the Vikings to be his … More about Janik Eckardt

EA Sports has released the EA FC 26 Max Skills Evolution in Ultimate Team as the very first EVO of Fantasy FC Week 2, allowing fans to level up their left-sided wingers and transforming them into capable strikers on the virtual pitch. This is a paid EVO and requires either 40,000 coins or 300 FC Points to be completed, but the boosts on offer will certainly be tempting for fans looking to upgrade their squads.

The second week of the Fantasy FC promo is under full swing in Ultimate Team, with the likes of Florian Wirtz and Arda Guler leading the line. There are a number of amazing players available via packs, but the EA FC 26 Max Skills Evolution will allow gamers to create their very own top-tier attacker on the virtual pitch.

All requirements of the EA FC 26 Max Skills Evolution

A player must meet the following requirements to be eligible for the EA FC 26 Max Skills Evolution:

• Overall rating: Max 87
• Position: LM
• Strength: Max 82
• Positions: Max four
• PlayStyles: Max 10
• PlayStyles+: Max one
• Must not be: World Tour Silver Superstars Icon

Best players to use in the EA FC 26 Max Skills Evolution

These are some of the most overpowered left-midfielders who will benefit the mosts from the attacking boosts on offer:

• Rafael Leao: 87
• Philogene: 87
• Kingsley Coman: 87
• Linda Caicedo: 87
• Bradley Barcola: 87
• Nico Williams: 87
• Antoine Griezmann: 87
• Luis Diaz: 87
• Serge Gnabry: 87
• Claudia Pina: 87
• Gervinho: 87
• Federico Chiesa: 86
• Isco: 86

All these players will receive a massive pace boost and an additional PlayStyle+ to make them even more effective in the current meta.

All upgrades and challenges of the EA FC 26 Max Skills Evolution

Similar to the recently released Bronze Glow Up EVO, the EA FC 26 Max Skills Evolution also has five levels. These are the upgrades offered by each level:

Level 1 upgrades:

• Quickstep PlayStyle
• Agility +25 (Max 90)
• Composure +25 (Max 88)
• Dribbling +25 (Max 90)

Level 2 upgrades:

• Quickstep+ PlayStyle
• Trickster PlayStyle
• Sprint Speed +25 (Max 91)
• Acceleration +25 (Max 92)
• Stamina +25 (Max 86)

Level 3 upgrades:

• LM inside forward++
• Trickster+ PlayStyle
• Jumping +25 (Max 86)
• Shooting+15 (Max 85)
• Short Passing +25 (Max 87)

Level 4 upgrades:

• ST position
• Skill moves +4 star
• Rapid PlayStyle
• ST Advanced Forward++
• Reactions +25 (Max 88)

Level 5 upgrades:

• Technical PlayStyle
• LM Winger++
• Ball control +25 (Max 89)
• Curve +25 (Max 87)
• Balance +25 (Max 89)

These are the challenges fans will have to complete in various Ultimate Team game modes like Rush, Rivals, Champions or Squad Battles:

Level 1 challenges:

• Play one match in Squad Battles on minimum Semi Pro difficulty (or Rush/Rivals/Champions/Live Events) using your active EVO player.

Level 2 challenges:

• Play one match in Squad Battles on minimum Semi Pro difficulty (or Rush/Rivals/Champions/Live Events) using your active EVO player.

Level 3 challenges:

• Play one match in Squad Battles on minimum Semi Pro difficulty (or Rush/Rivals/Champions/Live Events) using your active EVO player.

Level 4 challenges:

• Play one match in Squad Battles on minimum Semi Pro difficulty (or Rush/Rivals/Champions/Live Events) using your active EVO player.

Level 5 challenges:

• Play one match in Squad Battles on minimum Semi Pro difficulty (or Rush/Rivals/Champions/Live Events) using your active EVO player.

Overall, the EVO is worth the coins or FC Points required to unlock it.