Evolution Of The Minnesota Vikings Quarterback Coaches

Kevin O’Connell is entering his third season as the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings. Having an offensive-minded head coach can be a good thing. Especially one that is a former NFL quarterback. Today’s football revolves around the quarterback. It’s all about the quarterback. With that in mind, the continuity of O’Connell calling the plays and overseeing the development of the quarterbacks can be a very good thing. During the eight years that Mike Zimmer coached the Vikings, there was a frustrating revolving door of offensive coordinators. There was no continuity. I used to prefer defensive head coaches. Not anymore. The quarterback is overly important and the development of a young quarterback is crucial. There can be no revolving door of coaches. With all of that in mind, the evolution of the coaches surrounding the quarterbacks since O’Connell was hired in 2022 has been interesting. 

2022

Offensive Coordinator: Wes Phillips

Quarterbacks Coach: Chris O’Hara

Assistant Quarterbacks Coach: Jerrod Johnson

Tight Ends/Pass Game Coordinator: Brian Angelichio

Pass Game Specialist/Game Management Coordinator: Ryan Cordell

Assistant to the Head Coach/Special Projects: Grant Udinski

Kevin O’Connell brought Wes Phillips and Chris O’Hara with him from the Los Angeles Rams. In a sense, the Viking lucked into Jerrod Johnson for a single season because Vikings strength coach Marquis Johnson is his brother. After that single season, Jerrod Johnson moved to the Houston Texans to coach C.J. Stroud. Johnson will soon be an offensive coordinator and not long after that coaching his own team. He’s a coach on the rise. Anyway, the main coaches around the quarterbacks in O’Connell’s first season were the head coach, Phillips, O’Hara, and Johnson. 

2023

Offensive Coordinator: Wes Phillips

Quarterbacks Coach: Chris O’Hara

Assistant Quarterbacks Coach: Grant Udinski

Tight Ends/Pass Game Coordinator: Brian Angelichio

Pass Game Specialist/Game Management Coordinator: Ryan Cordell

After Kirk Cousins suffered an Achilles injury on the spongy Lambeau Field turf, the Vikings were forced to go through a merry-go-round of quarterbacks. They traded for Josh Dobbs and a Jaren Hall concussion forced the freshly acquired QB onto the field with only hours of team preparation. Much was made of O’Connell’s in-game handling of Dobbs. Little was made of the behind-the-scenes work of Grant Udinski. This is the coach that’s been on a fast climb up the Vikings QB coaching ladder.

2024

Offensive Coordinator: Wes Phillips

Quarterbacks Coach: Josh McCown

Assistant Offensive Coordinator/Assistant Quarterbacks Coach: Grant Udinski

Tight Ends/Pass Game Coordinator: Brian Angelichio

Pass Game Specialist/Game Management Coordinator: Ryan Cordell

Senior Offensive Assistant: Chris O’Hara

This offseason, the Vikings were looking at the draft for their quarterback of the future, maybe present. Getting Josh McCown to coach the quarterbacks was an incredible opportunity. A quarterback coaching base of O’Connell and McCown feels too good to be true for any young or veteran quarterback. The reason for this look into the Vikings quarterback coaches is Grant Udinski. Two years ago, he was mostly a go-fer for the head coach. Now, he’s the assistant offensive coordinator. I’ve never heard of a team having an assistant offensive coordinator. Udinski clearly earned a promotion to as far as O’Connell could promote him without bumping an incumbent. Chris O’Hara is the coach that dropped as Udinski rose. McCown’s hiring as quarterbacks coach moved O’Hara to the periphery of this coaching circle. 

Currently, the Vikings have an incredible coaching environment for a young, and old, quarterback. Sam Darnold and rookie J.J. McCarthy are the focus but Nick Mullens and Jaren Hall are benefitting. O’Connell isn’t going anywhere. I’m hoping that McCown is around for a couple of years. Like Jerrod Johnson, I feel like McCown could be a coach on a fast rise. Phillips has gotten some coordinator attention in recent hiring cycles. I’m not so sure that continues. Has Undinki’s rise put him on a list for some teams? Who knows? He’s been on a fast rise with the Vikings. For now, he still feels like something of a secret weapon.