Minnesota Vikings Add A Coach

While entertaining the assembled media at the Scouting Combine, Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell announced an addition to the team’s coaching staff. Former Tennessee Titans and New York Jets offensive line coach Keith Carter will replace Shaun Sarrett as assistant offensive line coach. The Jacksonville Jaguars tapped Vikings assistant offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Grant Udinski to be their offensive coordinator under new head coach Liam Coen. Udinski took Sarrett with him to be the Jaguars offensive line coach. The Vikings needed a new assistant to work with offensive line coach Chris Kuper. Keith Carter will be that assistant. 

When the Vikings hired Shaun Sarrett last offseason, I thought that he was incredibly experienced for an assistant offensive line coach. He’d been coaching since 2004. He’d been coaching in the NFL since 2012. Four years as an assistant offensive line coach with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Los Angeles Chargers. Two years as offensive line coach with the Steelers. Keith Carter’s coaching experience is even more impressive. So much so, that it’s a little surprising that he accepted an assistant offensive line coach job. He coached the Tennessee Titans offensive line under Mike Vrabel from 2018-22. He was the offensive line coach/run game coordinator for the New York Jets from 2023-24. He has more experience leading an NFL offensive line than Kuper. Carter’s seven years as an offensive line coach are eye-catching but it’s his two years as the assistant offensive line coach with the Atlanta Falcons that really caught my eye. That’s when he worked with then Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan. I’ve been hoping for the Vikings to get more creative with their run schemes. Shanahan has long been one of the most creative run-schemers in the league. Maybe Carter can bring some of that. 

A negative that’s been mentioned with the hiring of Keith Carter have been the opinions of some of his former players. Former Titans offensive tackle Taylor Lewan said that he “loved his coaching staff (other than Keith Carter).” Former Falcons fullback Patrick DiMarco and Jets offensive lineman Mekhi Becton expressed their agreement. O’Connell called Carter a “tough, kind of gritty guy.” The Vikings have built a special environment and culture. How will such a coach impact that environment and culture? It’s probably safe to say a little bit of toughness, a little bit of edginess could do the team some good. That’s especially true of the offensive line. O’Connell said that Carter’s coaching style could work well as the #2 offensive line coach. The Vikings front and the run game must get better, must get tougher. Perhaps the addition of Keith Carter is a step in that direction.