Minnesota Vikings Add A Couple Coaches

In advance of next week’s Scouting Combine, the Minnesota Vikings announced the addition of a couple coaches. Mike Siravo will replace Greg Manusky as the inside linebackers coach under new defensive coordinator Brian Flores. Siravo spent the past three seasons as the linebackers coach and run game coordinator of the Carolina Panthers. The Vikings also hired Lance Bennett as defensive quality control coach. 

Both new coaches have connections to Flores. Bennett’s connection is quite close. They went to high school together in Brooklyn and have remained tight. While the head coach of the Miami Dolphins, Flores hired Bennett as his “personal assistant and right-hand man.” Now, he’s returned to that role with the Vikings. Former Dolphins center Daniel Kilgore referred to Bennett as the good angel to counter Flores’ bad angel. Interesting. Siravo’s connection to Flores is more distant. Both shared a brief time, one year, at Boston College. Flores as a player. Siravo as a graduate assistant. It’s actually a surprise Siravo didn’t follow Matt Ruhle to Nebraska. Nearly all of his 20 coaching years have been with the new Cornhuskers head coach. 

The Vikings coaching moves weren’t all additions. There was one promotion within the team. Grant Udinski will replace Jerrod Johnson as the assistant quarterbacks coach. Johnson was hired to coach the quarterbacks of the Houston Texans. Udinski spent last season as the assistant to head coach Kevin O’Connell/special projects. He’s the mystery man of the Vikings coaching staff as he’s yet have a picture on the team website. 

The Vikings have three remaining coaching vacancies. 

-assistant defensive line

-assistant linebackers

-assistant special teams

There may be a fourth vacancy if O’Connell is looking for a coach to replace Udinski as his assistant/special projects.