The story about the Minnesota Vikings selecting quarterback Kellen Mond in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft became a turning point in the franchise. It seemed like the straw that broke the camel's back when it came to the relationship between general manager Rick Spielman and head coach Mike Zimmer.
Debates about the pick were heated, and the former Texas A&M passer struggled to fit in with the Vikings. Even Zimmer didn't hold back criticism of Minnesota's young quarterback and opted not to play him in some instances.
Former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kellen Mond struggles in the UFL
Although things didn't work out for Kellen Mond in the NFL, it seemed like he would have another opportunity in the UFL. He spent time with the Minnesota Vikings, Cleveland Browns, Indianapolis Colts, and New Orleans Saints before joining the UFL's San Antonio Brahmas.
Mond earned the starting job for the Brahmas but couldn't find his footing there either. In five starts, he only mustered one win for San Antonio, gaining 597 passing yards and throwing two touchdowns with two interceptions in those games.
In Week 5, Mond was benched by his UFL team. For Week 6, the Brahmas announced that Kevin Hogan would be the team's starting quarterback against the Birmingham Stallions, ending Mond's run as the team's QB1.
— James Larsen (@JamesLarsenPFN) May 2, 2025NEWS: The San Antonio Brahmas will be starting Kevin Hogan at quarterback this week, vs. the Stallions.
Hogan has primarily been QB3, but after Payton Pardee opened up the competition in practice this week, the veteran gets the starting nod for the @XFLBrahmas. #UFL pic.twitter.com/Y5BKEN7dZ9
For a team that was 7-3 last season and played in the UFL Championship game, the cold start has to be disappointing. Making a change to Kevin Hogan is no guarantee that the Brahmas will start winning games, but it definitely adds more validity to the opinions of former Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer,
The game, being played during the time of this writing, is not going well for San Antonio. In the third quarter, the Brahmas have given up two touchdowns and scored only one field goal, making the score 12-3 in favor of the Stallions.
Hogan is already moving the ball a little better through the air for San Antonio than during the first five games of the year but that doesn't mean that Mond won't get another opportunity to sling the ball for San Antonio.
The only thing Minnesota Vikings fans know right now is that the harsh words spoken by Mike Zimmer about Kellen Mond may have been a bit more honest than spiteful toward the team's general manager.
