Minnesota Vikings Lose A Coach

With only one remaining head coach vacancy and nearly all of the coordinator positions filled, it was beginning to look like the Minnesota Vikings were going to keep all of their coaches. Those hopes were dashed yesterday when the Jacksonville Jaguars hired Vikings assistant coach Grant Udinski to be new head coach Liam Coen’s offensive coordinator. 

In three years, Grant Udinski had emerged as one of the Vikings most interesting and most important assistant coaches. Prior to joining the Vikings, he was an assistant coach for the Carolina Panthers (2020-21) under Matt Ruhle. As the Vikings new head coach in 2022, Kevin O’Connell hired Undinski as an assistant to the head coach/special projects. Udinski started his time in Minnesota as a bit of mystery as his picture on the team’s website throughout his first season was a silhouette. Who was this coach? Was he some sort of secret weapon? It took no time for him to make a quick progression up the Vikings coaching ladder. In 2023, he was the assistant quarterbacks coach. In 2024, assistant offensive coordinator was added to his title and his responsibilities. I can’t recall ever seeing a coach with the title of assistant offensive coordinator. O’Connell was forced to create titles and add responsibilities. Undinski’s growing importance and competence forced a promotion to something. 

Udinski may have started his time in Minnesota as a secret weapon. After three seasons, his coaching was no longer a secret. He’s been a popular offensive coordinator candidate this offseason. Over the past few weeks, he interviewed with the Seattle Seahawks, New England Patriots, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Houston Texans, and Jacksonville Jaguars. I actually thought that all those positions had been recently filled and was breathing sighs of relief. I only had to worry about the head coach-less New Orleans Saints. I was clearly mistaken about the Jaguars and Liam Coen having their offensive coordinator. That job now belongs to Grant Udinski. It’s a great thing for Udinski. It isn’t so great for the Vikings but it was inevitable. This is a coach that will be a head coach soon. He’s only 29. He’s going to be a very young head coach. 

The Vikings are going to miss Grant Udinski. Kevin O’Connell is going to miss him. Wes Phillips, Josh McCown, all of the assistant coaches are going to miss him. Unfortunately, quarterback J.J. McCarthy is probably going to miss him the most. Udinski was the coach designated to take late-night questions from the rookie quarterback. I doubt that Udinski had to be designated. He lives and breathes football. He probably welcomed all questions at all hours. The end of this coach-player relationship is probably the aspect of Udinski departing that worries me most. 

It’s incredibly selfish to not want Vikings coaches to advance their careers elsewhere. I can’t help it. I’m selfish about coaches that I want to stay in Minnesota. In the 1990s, I didn’t want Tony Dungy to leave. In the 2000s, I didn’t want Mike Tomlin to leave. I don’t want Brian Flores to leave. I didn’t want Grant Udinski to leave. These coaches deserve the opportunities to reach their career goals. Despite being selfish about them, I am happy for them. I’m happy for Udinski. I just wish that the Vikings and J.J. McCathy had another year with him.