Following the conclusion of the 2021 season, the Minnesota Vikings underwent a thorough regime change. Out were longtime general manager Rick Spielman and head coach Mike Zimmer. Taking control of the ship was Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, an analytics wunderkind who had helped guide successful roster-building strategies for both the 49ers and Browns. Adofo-Mensah started off by conducting a wide-ranging head coach search that ultimately landed on Kevin O’Connell.
The Vikings were in a bit of a pickle at the moment. They had a significant financial commitment to quarterback Kirk Cousins and a roster that was largely competitive - they had just finished a “disappointing” 8-9 campaign and were two years removed from winning a playoff game - but Minnesota was also far from being a contender.