This past season, Minnesota Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah had some sleepless nights wondering where he went wrong. Why were quarterback issues causing so many losses, and what could he do to fix it for 2026?

It's easy to look back and judge based on results, Adofo-Mensah said. But thinking about what we knew then, I still understand our decisions. The results might not have been what we hoped for. Ultimately, we could have done a better job with player acquisitions.

Not pointing fingers at specific players, but we could have better matched the room's playstyle and experience. Putting together a better group overall – that's what I'm focusing on.

This explains why the Vikings plan to repeat a similar process for their quarterback situation this offseason, but with a stronger focus on getting better results. Adofo-Mensah and coach Kevin O'Connell both emphasised the depth they want around J.J. McCarthy. Neither is committed to McCarthy as the starter for 2026, but they also haven't given up on him after his rocky rookie season with injuries.

Basically, the Vikings are in a similar position to last year: hoping to pair McCarthy with a capable quarterback who can compete for the starting role and provide insurance against injuries or slow development.

Last year, they thought Daniel Jones would be that guy, but he signed with the Indianapolis Colts. McCarthy then became the default starter after the team put together a depth chart that included Sam Howell, Brett Rypien, and Max Brosmer. The Vikings ended up ranking 29th in the NFL in team QBR (34.9).

Late in the season, ESPN questioned whether the Vikings might pursue a quarterback with the credentials to immediately take over from McCarthy as the starter in 2026. No one ruled it out. At the very least, the Vikings will likely target a quarterback similar to Jones in 2025, who won the Colts' job in training camp and started 13 games before getting injured.

'I definitely want a competitive situation,' O'Connell said.

Just as they weren't sure if McCarthy was ready to start in 2025, the Vikings didn't see enough last season to be sure he'll progress enough to lead them to the playoffs in 2026. When asked if he wanted McCarthy to be the starter, Adofo-Mensah paused before saying, I want the Vikings to reach our goals.

And making playoff runs is one of those goals, Adofo-Mensah added. I think he has the character and skill to be that person for our team. But saying that for 2026 kind of limits us; I need to build a deep, competitive quarterback room for the Vikings.

This means the Vikings will again walk a tightrope that failed them last season. The limited number of starting-calibre quarterbacks in the NFL means that players like Jones have options. Jones chose the Colts because he saw a clearer path to the starting job. By the time he made that decision, the Vikings couldn't use their franchise tag to keep 2024 starter Sam Darnold. The remaining quarterbacks weren't as good, leading the Vikings to acquire Howell.

Can the Vikings find someone better in 2026? Jones is again a free agent, but the Colts want to re-sign him. Unless the Vikings make a major trade for someone like Joe Burrow, the available options will have flaws.

Backup Malik Willis is a free agent and likely to have interest from other teams. The Falcons might release Kirk Cousins. Aaron Rodgers and Joe Flacco will be free agents. So will Jimmy Garoppolo and Russell Wilson.

Mac Jones and Geno Smith could be traded, and the Dolphins might move on from Tua Tagovailoa. Jones has been a backup for two seasons, Smith ranked 27th in NFL QBR this season, and Tagovailoa ranked 26th.

The best scenario for the Vikings is for McCarthy to improve this offseason quickly and learn how to avoid injuries. McCarthy said his performance and health are connected: 'I feel like the injuries will slowly fade away with just more awareness,' and Adofo-Mensah agreed that being available is a skill.

Adofo-Mensah and O'Connell made it clear that they can't rely on that progress. It's understandable, but finding a quarterback is tough. The Vikings had a good plan in 2025, but couldn't make it happen. Can they do better this time? Their 2026 season likely depends on it.

Aaron Rodgers isn’t sure what’s next for him in the NFL, but after the Steelers got trounced by the Texans in the playoffs, he made it clear he’s standing by Mike Tomlin.

After the Steelers’ ugly 30-6 loss in Pittsburgh, Rodgers talked about Tomlin during his postgame press conference. Reporters wanted to know if Tomlin was on the hot seat, since the Steelers have now lost seven straight playoff games. Rodgers didn’t hold back.

“When I came into the league, nobody even thought about putting guys like that on the hot seat,” Rodgers said. “But now, with the way people cover football, the snap judgments, and how everyone on Twitter or TV acts like they know everything—it’s a joke. To think guys like Tomlin or LaFleur are really in trouble says a lot about where we’re at right now. Matt’s done a ton in Green Bay, and I’ve been part of a lot of that success.”

The numbers from Monday’s game were rough for Pittsburgh. Houston outgained them 408 to 175 in total yards. The Steelers only managed 63 rushing yards, way below their already weak average. The Texans’ defence dominated—four sacks, two forced turnovers, and two defensive touchdowns.

C.J. Stroud threw for 250 yards and a touchdown (plus an interception) for Houston. Woody Marks ran for 112 yards and a score. Christian Kirk caught eight passes for 144 yards and a touchdown.

Rodgers didn’t have his best day either. He completed just 17 of 33 passes for 146 yards, with an interception and a lost fumble. Sheldon Rankins scooped up that fumble and ran it back 33 yards for a touchdown. Calen Bullock returned Rodgers’ pick 50 yards to the end zone.

Honestly, it’s kind of wild that the Steelers even made the playoffs. They won the AFC North, sure, but their offence ranked near the bottom of the league, and their defence wasn’t much better. Still, under Tomlin, they finished their 19th straight season without a losing record. But the playoff story stayed the same: another quick exit.

Tomlin’s track record is solid—he won a Super Bowl in his second year and started 8-5 in the postseason. Bill Cowher, the guy before him, went 12-9 in the playoffs over 15 years and nabbed a Super Bowl, too.

“Mike T. has had more success than just about anyone in the league in the last 20 years,” Rodgers said. “And when you’ve got the right guy and the culture’s strong, you don’t think about making a change. But outside noise puts pressure on teams, and sometimes that sways decisions. Honestly, that’s not how I’d do things, and it’s not how the league used to work.”

Tomlin said he feels “optimistic” about the future when asked, but he wasn’t ready to talk big picture or address his own job security. He’s under contract through 2026, with a team option after that.

“I’m not even thinking about that right now,” Tomlin said. “I’m thinking about what just happened out there—what we did and what we didn’t do. Not looking at the big picture yet.”

As for Rodgers, he’s heading into free agency and stayed quiet about whether he’d return in 2026. He’s already hinted that 2025 might be his last year, but when asked about playing for Pittsburgh if he keeps going, he didn’t want to get into it.

“I’m not making any emotional decisions right now,” Rodgers said. “It’s been a fun year, a lot of adversity, but a lot of good times, too. This team’s been a big part of that for me. So yeah, it stings to be sitting here with the season over.”

Now the Texans, sitting at 13-5, move on to face the top-seeded Patriots in Foxborough on Sunday.