Minnesota Vikings co-owner Mark Wilf on their new era, visiting Ukraine, and sticking with Cousins

There is no offseason in the NFL, so the saying goes. And as well as making multiple personnel decisions on all levels, Minnesota Vikings co-owner Mark Wilf has had plenty to occupy himself.

Wilf, who chairs the Jewish Federations of North America, spent a week on the Ukraine-Poland border distributing aid to refugees earlier this year following Russia’s invasion.

‘I was in a town called Medyka, right on the Poland-Ukraine border,’ he tells Sportsmail. ‘I met with refugees and saw the incredible trauma going on. We were trying to evaluate and help understand better their needs so we can do the fundraising and do the advocating to make it happen.

Mark Wilf (right) has opened up on the Minnesota Vikings ahead of the 2022 season

The Vikings players prepare for the upcoming season during the offseason back in May

The Vikings players prepare for the upcoming season during the offseason back in May

‘It was a powerful experience.

‘I know our organization are working 24-7. There are incredible professionals and volunteers from all organizations from all countries of the world.

‘It’s also personal for me, you know. Myself and my brother (Zygi, fellow Vikings co-owner) and my cousin, our parents were Holocaust survivors. They were refugees in Poland just a little over 80 years ago and there was no one there for them. We are in a privileged situation and we have the ability to give back. And if we can, we will. That’s kind of the spirit that that was a trip was made in.

‘We are very fortunate of the platforms we are part of in professional sports. But there’s a lot going on in the world that we have to be mindful of and do whatever small part we can to help alleviate suffering.’

Wilf adds that he may return to the region after the upcoming season. And as things turn to sport, he’s enthusiastic about Minnesota’s culture change after the Vikings went 8-9 and missed out on the playoffs for a second straight year.

Wilf (left) recently visited the Poland-Ukraine border to help with the war efforts

Wilf (left) recently visited the Poland-Ukraine border to help with the war efforts

37-year-old Kevin O'Connell has come in as head coach, for his first go at a HC role in the NFL

37-year-old Kevin O’Connell has come in as head coach, for his first go at a HC role in the NFL

Gone are Mike Zimmer, the head coach who spent eight seasons in Minnesota, and general manager Rick Spielman, who had been in the front office since 2006.

In their place are Kevin O’Connell, a first-year head coach fresh off the back of a Super Bowl win as offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams, and Kwesi Adofoh-Mensah, former VP of Football Operations for the Cleveland Browns.

It marks a new, younger, era in Minnesota, as Wilf described.

‘We are very, very excited about Kevin and Kwesi coming in,’ he said. ‘They give strong leadership, they are innovators, great communicators, great leaders and we’re really seeing that on the field.

‘We’re well into the final phase of our offseason program and just the way everyone’s working together, there’s a good energy for the season ahead.’

In his first draft, Adofo-Mensah traded six times, a league high, while addressing an all-too familiar need. Their first two picks were defensive backs – safety Lewis Cine as the No 32 overall pick and cornerback Andrew Booth Jnr 10 picks later in the second round. It had echoes of the Zimmer-Spielman era, who picked 16 DBs during their eight drafts together.

The Vikings are sticking by their divisive quarterback Kirk Cousins ahead of the new season

The Vikings are sticking by their divisive quarterback Kirk Cousins ahead of the new season

‘We think we did a great job, not just in the draft, but in free agency too, focusing on positive culture and extreme talent,’ said Wilf. ‘We think we’ve made great strides.

‘The additions we made in free agency – Za’Darius Smith, Harrison Phillips, Jordan Hicks – add to Lewis Cine and Andrew Booth in the draft. On the defensive side, we have a lot of players but they’re good fits in terms of the building. They’ve worked well with everyone else.

‘And we have a new scheme, of course, new coaching staff. So there is a lot of good new energy going on and I think our fans – including the ones in the UK – should be very excited what they’re going to be seeing this season.’

While there has been much change in Minnesota, the front office has kept its faith in Kirk Cousins. The divisive quarterback was entering the final year of his contract, but signed a one-year extension worth a fully-guaranteed $35 million.

O’Connell was integral to Cousins staying in Minnesota, as Wilf noted: ‘Kevin is familiar with Kirk and we now have more parts on the team to support not just Kirk but every aspect of the team. We feel real, real strong about it. There is a lot of work ahead and a lot of practices but it’s starting to begin to gel.’

The Vikings will return to England for the third time this season, playing the New Orleans Saints at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on October 2.

Wilf (right) stands with HC O'Connell (second right) and general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah

Wilf (right) stands with HC O’Connell (second right) and general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah

With two previous wins in London under their belts – against Pittsburgh in 2013 and Cleveland in 2017 – Wilf is excited about the trip.

‘It won’t be easy, we’re playing New Orleans, a top team, but we look forward to having a great contest. The most important thing is that we are back in London. We have great fan support and we love doing our part to help grow the game of American football on a global scale. It’s our first visit to Tottenham. We were in Wembley and then Twickenham. So, it’s our third venue for our third visit.’

Perhaps Wilf, who owns Orlando City Soccer Club in MLS and the NWSL’s Orlando Pride, will catch a Premier League that weekend.

‘We’re in the soccer business in Orlando with the men and the women so yes, we follow EPL closely. We adopt relationships and friendships with some of the clubs and it’s the greatest soccer in the world.’

And with Americans Stan Kroenke, the Glazer family, Todd Boehly and Fenway Sports Group all owning Premier League clubs as well as American franchises, would Wilf extend his reach across the Atlantic?

‘Not in the immediate future right now – we’ve got our hands full,’ he laughs. ‘But we keep a close eye on what’s going on over there, so who knows? Who knows!’

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