One season and one game is a small size. Still, it’s difficult to not be excited about the Minnesota Vikings defense coordinated by Brian Flores. Last year, he did remarkable things with a modestly talented group of players. This year, with an offseason of adding players that fit his schemes, there are high hopes with a much more talented group of players. In the season-opener, against a marginal New York Giants offense, Flores’ defense was outstanding. Perhaps the Giants offense struggled because of the Vikings defense. Whatever the case, the San Francisco 49ers will pose a greater test in Week 2.
Thinking about Brian Flores’ coaching and the play of the defense got me thinking about the team’s defensive past. The Vikings have a history of strong defenses. The Purple People Eaters of the late 1960s and early 1970s are some of the best in NFL history. While not quite as great, Floyd Peters and Tony Dungy coached some of the league’s best defenses of the late 1980s and early 1990s. Leslie Frazier did well with a talented group of players in the late 2000s. As the head coach, Mike Zimmer coordinated strong defenses in the late 2010s. Here’s a look at the Vikings defensive coordinator past.
Minnesota Vikings Defensive Coordinators Through The Years
The Norm Van Brocklin Years:
Having grown accustomed to professional coaching staffs that exceed a couple dozen, it can be startling to see the coaching staffs of the early 1960s. Norm Van Brocklin, the Vikings first head coach, had only four coaches assisting him. Four! Van Brocklin oversaw the offense. Walt Yowarsky coached the offensive line. Darrel Brewster coached the receivers. Two coaches handled the defense.
1961-63
Harry Gilmer - defensive backs
Stan West - defensive line
Harry Gilmer coached the defensive backs from 1961-64. West coached the defensive line from 1961-63. The linebackers were handled as a blend of the two units. From 1961-63, the Vikings defensive coordinator was essentially Gilmer and West. That dual defensive coordinator setup continued through Van Brocklin’s six years as the Vikings head coach.
1964
Harry Gilmer - defensive backs
Marion Campbell - defensive line
1965
Jack Faulkner - defensive backs
Marion Campbell - defensive line
1966
Jim Carr - defensive backs
Marion Campbell - defensive line
The Bud Grant Years:
The coaching staffs were still small. Some sites list defensive line coach Bob Hollway as the Vikings first “official” defensive coordinator during Bud Grant’s first year as head coach. Pro Football Reference doesn’t list him with that title until 1969. For simplicity, I’m going with Hollway as Grant’s first Vikings defensive coordinator from that first year.
1967-70
Bob Hollway
1971-77
Neill Armstrong
The great Vikings defenses of these years earned the first two defensive coordinators head coach opportunities. Hollway took over the St. Louis Cardinals in 1971. Neill Armstrong took over the Chicago Bears in 1978. Neither found much success away from Minnesota. Hollway eventually found his way back to the Vikings.
1978-83
Bob Hollway
The dreaded Les Steckel Year:
1984
Floyd Reese
Grant’s Back:
So’s Bob.
1985
Bob Hollway
The Jerry Burns Years:
1986-90
Floyd Peters
1991
Monte Kiffin
The Dennis Green Years:
1992-95
Tony Dungy
1996-99
Foge Fazio
2000-01
Emmitt Thomas
The Mike Tice Years:
2002
Willie Shaw
2003
George O’Leary
2004-05
Ted Cottrell
I’d forgotten that Mike Tice went through three DCs in only four years.
The Brad Childress Years:
2006
Mike Tomlin
2007-10
Leslie Frazier
The Leslie Frazier Years:
2011
Fred Pagac
2012
Alan Williams
The Mike Zimmer Years:
Mike Zimmer was the Vikings defensive coordinator during the Mike Zimmer years. Other coaches helped and carried the title.
2014-19
George Edwards
2020-21
Andre Patterson
Adam Zimmer
The dual DC situation was odd but did it matter? Mike Zimmer was the DC.
The Kevin O’Connell Years:
2022
Ed Donatell
2023
Brian Flores
The Vikings have a strong defensive past. All of the best defenses were loaded with great defensive players. They made it easy for their coaches to bring out the best in the group. That great past has set a high bar for every Vikings defense. The 2022 defense was so far below that bar. Head coach Kevin O’Connell’s hiring of Brian Flores after that dreadful season was brilliant. It brought immediate positive results with pretty much the same group of players that floundered under Ed Donatell. Flores is deserving of a second head coach opportunity. His time with Miami Dolphins didn’t end well. It also resulted in his suing the league and some of its teams for their racist hiring practices. That situation is the only thing keeping him getting a second shot at running a team. Selfishly, I hope that he never leaves the Vikings. I suppose that I should just be thankful for each year that he spends in Minnesota. Flores deserves a head coach opportunity.
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