Mark Wilf expressed confidence in Minnesota’s bright future during his time in the Sunshine State.
The Vikings Owner/President is in Florida this week for the NFL’s Annual League Meeting, where he and other team owners and leadership congregate to evaluate playoff proposals, rule changes and more.
Wilf met Monday afternoon with Twin Cities beat reporters and responded to a number of questions, in addition to reflecting on the 2024 campaign and first part of the 2025 offseason. He acknowledged excitement around the 14-3 regular-season run by Minnesota last year and simultaneous disappointment in the Vikings early exit from the postseason.
“But we feel like the football leadership we have, we’re in good stead to really keep competing and driving hard to where we want to go, which is Super Bowl championships and winning divisions,” Wilf said. “And we know the tough task we have there. We’re in a very competitive division, and that was proven last year. But we feel really good about the moves we made, particularly on the [offensive and defensive] lines, and we have great hope for the future in terms of all parts of the team and our leadership.”
Wilf complimented Head Coach Kevin O’Connell, General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Executive Vice President of Football Operations Rob Brzezinski for putting together “a great plan” for free agency.
Asked about any updates on a contract extension for Adofo-Mensah after O’Connell was extended in January, Wilf assured it’s still something he desires to get done.
“Kwesi’s part of our football leadership,” he said. “We feel great the moves Kwesi’s made, in terms of positioning, along with Coach O’Connell and Rob, in terms of our salary cap position, our draft position and potential, and so we have all the faith in Kwesi, and we’ve had very, very positive conversations, and that’s something we’re going to continue to work toward this offseason, in terms of making sure he’s part of that.
“I think Coach O’Connell and Kwesi and Rob and our entire football leadership, our coordinators, our scouting department work very well together, and we as ownership feel strongly about it, as well,” Wilf later added. “I think this offseason has been a real positive; I hope our fans sense that, as well.”
Since the New League Year opened just over two weeks ago, the Vikings have been able to re-sign key players like Aaron Jones, Sr., and Byron Murphy, Jr., while also bringing in new players like Jonathan Allen, Javon Hargrave, Ryan Kelly, Will Fries and more to bolster their roster. Throughout that process, players have cited multiple reasons for wanting to be in Minnesota — playing for a competitive team, of course, likely is near the top, but several have also referenced the NFLPA Report Card and the Vikings favorable grades in all areas of the organization.
The Wilfs are proud of a team that garners such high marks, from health and performance training, to TCO Performance Center and its resources, to treatment of players’ families.
“I think players ultimately want to be in a place where they can compete and win but also want to be in a place where they’re taken care of, that their families feel good about being there, and also that they can hone their craft,” Wilf said, noting a “concerted effort” on the Vikings culture. “As ownership, we provide resources to have what we think are the state-of-the-art facilities in the NFL and in the sports world, and that’s important.
“But buildings are only one part of it; it’s about people,” Wilf continued. “We have the right leaders in the room, and I think players around the league are recognizing that, and that’s important. And I think this free agency showed that it’s a competitive league, as we know, but as we believe, I think it’s starting to become a place where people say, ‘OK, this is a place we can compete, my family can be taken care of, and I can also hone my craft, and I’m going to be taken care of the right way.’ “
In addition to the Vikings free agency moves, Wilf expressed excitement and continued confidence in 2024 first-round draft pick J.J. McCarthy.
McCarthy missed all of his rookie campaign after suffering a knee injury in Minnesota’s first preseason game last August but has impressed in all he’s learned off the field, as well as the way he’s tackled the rehab and recovery process.
Wilf’s enthusiasm surrounding McCarthy dates back to even before last year’s draft, when some of the ownership accompanied the Vikings football leadership on QB visits and workouts.
“The fact that we even had to move up [in the draft] to make sure that we weren’t going to lose J.J. for any reason says a lot about the dynamic we had with him. Of course, a proven winner at every level,” Wilf said. “I know he was injured last year, but how he’s approached his rehab, how he’s approached everything, has given everyone a lot of confidence in the building.
“The amount of time and resources we put into really spending time with those QB prospects was, we knew that was a special draft for QBs, and we know how important that position is, and we know how important Kevin O’Connell [really is in] getting to know the players, getting to understand them, maybe outside their typical environment,” Wilf continued. “It gives us that kind of confidence when we talk about J.J. as a franchise [player].”
As reporters have recently asked Adofo-Mensah and O’Connell their interest level — if any — in bringing four-time All-Pro Aaron Rodgers to Minnesota, Wilf offered “tremendous respect” to the former foe but also reiterated belief in O’Connell, Adofo-Mensah, the whole coaching staff and McCarthy.
“Coach O’Connell has a relationship with [Rodgers], and I leave it to Coach O’Connell and Kwesi and Rob to work through all of that. But a lot of confidence in how J.J. McCarthy is developing,” he said. “So yeah, a lot of respect for Aaron Rodgers, but we feel where Coach O’Connell is and Kwesi, a lot of confidence in how they’re going to bring this team [forward]. And looking forward to seeing what J.J. can do, continuing to see him develop, and we as an ownership and a franchise are going to make sure all the resources are in place to maximize his potential.”
Below are three additional topics Wilf touched on during his session with Twin Cities media members:
On how you evaluate draft success:
“You know, wins and losses is the ultimate measure. I think you have to look at the whole picture. It’s draft, it’s free agency. I think again, free agency has become a more important part of the team-building dynamic, but drafts seem to be a two- to three-year process before you really see where it falls out. The whole [compensatory] pick equation and making sure you have plenty of picks is something I know we’re working constantly on. So, it’s not an immediate answer all the time. Sometimes it is. But again, the ultimate measure is championships, division titles, wins and losses, all of the common metrics all our fans appreciate, and so I feel really good about our future.”
On how the increased salary cap impacts ownership’s perspective:
“It has gone up again, and it has gone up dramatically. I think with Rob Brzezinski and how he has the kind of experience to work through the salary cap and the comp picks and all the entire structure, [and] we feel free agency is also more and more, it’s not just a plug; it can be a real team-building tool. We were very methodical on the process these last few seasons.
“Ideally you want to have both draft and free agency work well, and having the free agency [period], you’ve got to hit on those guys. They’re veterans. And seeing those guys hit was really a big part of why we were able to be successful last year.”
On whether the Vikings will play an international game in 2025:
“I know it’s always a possibility. We do applaud and are eager to invest — as you know, we have our marketing rights in the UK and in Canada, but just as an overall League, growing the game, having two additional countries this year, in Ireland and Spain, and continuing to grow. So I don’t know where we’re going to fall on the schedule this year. We’ll see. It’ll come out in a few weeks.”