Vikings Defensive Line Group

The Minnesota Vikings have a strong defensive line tradition. The team’s 65 years are generously peppered with Hall of Famers, All-Pros, and Pro Bowlers. From Alan Page to Danielle Hunter, it’s been fun following the Vikings defensive line evolution. “Fun” feels like the right word to describe the current edition of this strong tradition. It’s a fun group partly because they are all so young. The Vikings have 11 defensive linemen on the roster. None of the 11 were on the roster prior to 2023. 

Jalen Redmond

Levi Drake Rodriguez

Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins

Elijah Williams

Taki Taimani

Caleb Banks

Domonique Orange

Eric Johnson II

Isaiahh Loudermilk

Smith Vilbert

Jahrvee Ritzie

Prior to the 2026 NFL Draft, this was also a fun group because none were a Day 1 or Day 2 draft pick. Unheralded, underrated, and undrafted players that emerge as impact players are always fun. The Vikings had to go and wreck that fun little nugget by selecting Caleb Banks in the first round and Domonique Orange in the third round. Pre-draft, I was so enamored with the Vikings young, scrappy defensive line group that I didn’t think the team needed to devote high-end draft assets to improve the position. Post-draft, I’m thrilled that the team selected Banks and Orange. Seeing the gigantic duo bopping about the facility and practice field together has me dreaming about new days like the old days of Kevin and Pat Williams, the Williams Wall. Pre-draft, I was excited to see a surprising but solid Vikings defensive line. Post-draft, I’m excited to see a perhaps still surprising but dominant defensive line. The elite-level talent of Banks and Orange give the potential for something special. Special like some of the fantastic defensive lines in the team’s history. While rookies have a tough road to significant snaps in a Brian Flores-schemed defense, I expect Banks and Orange to earn starting roles. I really like a Vikings first-team defensive line of:

Jalen Redmond

Domonique Orange

Caleb Banks

Jalen Redmond might be the most fun player of the Vikings fun defensive line group. If not fun, his unusual path to NFL stardom is certainly inspiring. From blood clots, during COVID, at Oklahoma to undrafted to the XFL to an opportunity with the Vikings, nothing about Redmond’s football story is ordinary. He was so impressive in training camp last summer that Harrison Phillips was shipped to the New York Jets. In his second season in Minnesota and his first as a starter, Redmond emerged as a difference-maker. Now, he’s the leader of the Vikings fun, young defensive line group. 

In today’s NFL, a starting defensive line is only as strong as it’s rotation. All defensive linemen that are active on game day have to play. Pre-draft, I liked these three players as potential starters. Actually, I still do.

Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins

Levi Drake Rodriguez

Elijah Williams

This is a fun trio.Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins is a versatile football player. Levi Drake Rodriguez has an every-down baseline of 100%. Elijah Williams is my under-the-radar breakout player of the Vikings defense. He was undrafted in 2025 and is further proof that the NFL scouts really must do a better job of scouting HBCUs. It’s a mystifying blind spot and it’s been a blind spot for decades. Every one of the schools is close to a “big” school. Take the time to check out these players. A keeper might be found. These players can play. Anyway, back to the Vikings fun defensive line group. 

During the offseason, the Vikings added a couple experienced defensive linemen. Eric Johnson II was a fifth-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft of the Indianapolis Colts. Over the past four years, he established a rotational role. Isaiahh Loudermilk was a fifth-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Over the past five years, he established a rotational role. Two experienced players with similar NFL histories. Perhaps to force some experience into the Vikings defensive line, some local pundits project one, or the other, to make the 53-man roster. Personally, I only see it if the Vikings keep seven defensive linemen. I believe that the defensive line group will have six players.

Jalen Redmond

Caleb Banks

Domonique Orange

Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins

Levi Drake Rodriguez

Elijah Williams

That’s a fun group with intriguing potential. I can’t wait to see them on the field in a real football game.

Minnesota Vikings Training Camp Roster

The Minnesota Vikings will open training camp and be on the field today. While the players won’t be in pads until Monday, football is finally back. 

The days before training camp often bring a few roster tweaks. Yesterday was that sort of day. The Vikings waived a couple undrafted players and signed a couple players with NFL experience, one with considerable NFL experience. 

Waived:

Keli Lawson, LB

Luke Wysong, WR

Signed

Jamal Adams, LB

Jordan Mims, RB

Jamal Adams is a familiar name at an unfamiliar position. Honestly, Adams may have come into the league as a safety but he was always at his best near the line of scrimmage. He was a menace coming after the quarterback rather than reacting to him. In his best years, he simple wrecked things behind, on, and around the line of scrimmage. The Vikings leave no doubt to their plans for Adams as he’s listed as a linebacker and has the #54 on his jersey. Jordan Mims, and his 20 carries for the New Orleans Saints in 2024, gives the Vikings a little more experience in the running back room. 

As the Vikings step on the field for training camp, I’m still waiting (hoping) for that Harrison Smith return. 

Minnesota Vikings Training Camp Roster (91)

Offense (45)

Quarterbacks (4)

Kyler Murray

J.J. McCarthy

Carson Wentz

Max Brosmer

Running Backs (7)

Aaron Jones

Jordan Mason

Zavier Scott

Demond Claiborne

Jordan Mims

Kejon Owens

Max Bredeson - fullback

Receivers (12)

Justin Jefferson

Jordan Addison

Jauan Jennings

Tai Felton

Myles Price

Jeshaun Jones

Dontae Fleming

Dillon Bell

Marcus Sanders Jr.

Terrill Davis

Michael Briscoe

Trayvon Rudolph

Tight Ends (6)

T.J. Hockenson

Josh Oliver

Gavin Bartholomew

Ben Yurosek

Bryson Nesbit

Marshall Lang

Tackles (6)

Christian Darrisaw

Brian O’Neill

Ryan Van Demark

Walter Rouse

Caleb Tiernan

Triston Leigh

Guards (5)

Donovan Jackson

Will Fries

Joe Huber

Henry Byrd

Tomas Rimac

Centers (5)

Blake Brandel

Michael Jurgens

Vershon Lee

Gavin Gerhardt

Delby Lemieux

Defense (42)

Defensive Line (11)

Jalen Redmond

Levi Drake Rodriguez

Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins

Elijah Williams

Taki Taimani

Caleb Banks

Domonique Orange

Eric Johnson II

Isaiahh Loudermilk

Smith Vilbert

Jahrvee Ritzie

Outside Linebackers (7)

Andrew Van Ginkel

Dallas Turner

Bo Richter

Tyler Batty

Chaz Chambliss

Cam’Ron Stewart

Arden Walker 

Inside Linebackers (8)

Blake Cashman

Eric Wilson

Ivan Pace Jr.

Jamal Adams

Jake Golday

Josh Ross

Jacob Roberts

Bangally Kamara

Cornerbacks (9)

Byron Murphy Jr.

Isaiah Rodgers

James Pierre

Zemaiah Vaughn

Dwight McGlothern

Chuck Demmings

Marcus Allen

Da’Veawn Armstead

Tyreek Chappell

Safeties (7)

Joshua Metellus

Theo Jackson

Jay Ward

Tavierre Thomas

Kahlef Hailassie 

Jakobe Thomas

Jacob Thomas

Special Teams (4)

Kicker

Will Reichard

Punter

Johnny Hekker

Brett Thorson

Long Snapper

Andrew DePaola

Minnesota Vikings Pre-Training Camp Roster Tweaks

The Minnesota Vikings used the day between rookies reporting to training camp and veterans reporting to tweak the roster. The team waived undrafted rookie linebacker Keli Lawson and waived undrafted rookie receiver Luke Wysong, who received a non-football injury designation. The two moves opened two roster spots. It didn’t take long for the Vikings to fill one of them. 

Monday evening, Jamal Adams posted on twitter “Year 10” with a “#skol” hashtag. It was the first indication that Adams was back for his 10th season and that season would be in Minnesota. His news was quickly confirmed by all of the various football pundits and outlets. 

Knee-jerk reactions had the Vikings signing Jamal Adams because Harrison Smith had decided against coming back for his 15th season. This signing has nothing to do with Smith and has no impact on that decision. Adams may have made a name for himself as a safety but he hasn’t played strictly safety for some time. Severe critics of his game might argue that he’s never been a traditional safety. Last year, with the Las Vegas Raiders, Adams had the following snap distribution:

Left Edge: 38

Right Edge: 28

Inside LB (box): 254

Slot corner: 124

Wide corner: 2

Safety: 2

That looks like the snap distribution of a Brian Flores chess piece football player. As soon as I heard about the signing I thought about a game Jamal Adams had during his first season with the Seattle Seahawks. I think it might have been against the Buffalo Bills. Adams was an absolute menace as a pass rusher. The Bills couldn’t slow him. Up the middle, off the edge, Adams relentlessly harassed the quarterback. If he wasn’t sacking the quarterback, he was hitting him. If he wasn’t hitting the quarterback, he was pressuring him. There’s been six years and some injuries since that game. I doubt that Adams is the player. I know that the Vikings didn’t sign him as a safety. To put it simply, the Vikings signed a linebacker. To put it more accurately, the Vikings signed a defensive chess piece. Anytime Joshua Metellus and Jamal Adams are on the field together, offenses won’t have a clue where two of the 11 defenders will be lining up pre-snap or where they will be post-snap. 

It’s kinda funny. For most of his career, I was never quite sure what to think of Jamal Adams. In his prime, his athleticism was undeniable. He was listed as a safety but was often a liability in coverage. Yet, he could tilt the field and change games. In his first four seasons, he was once first-team All-Pro and twice second-team All-Pro. The New York Jets selected him with the sixth pick of the 2017 NFL Draft. The Seahawks traded two first-round picks for Adams and then made him the highest-paid safety in the league. So two teams used high-end assets to acquire him. There was a time when Adams was one of the league’s top defensive playmakers. Despite that unquestioned level of play, I was never quite sure what to think of a safety that could really only do about half the things required of the position. It’s kinda funny because I think I like a 30-year old Jamal Adams in this Brian Flores defense than I would’ve liked a 24-year old Jamal Adams in a Mike Zimmer defense. Perhaps it’s because I always saw Adams as more of a box linebacker/robber-type defender than traditional safety. 

I’ve said it every year Brian Flores has coordinated the Vikings defense and I say it again. I really can’t wait to see this Vikings defense on the field. Each year brings him new players, new ideas, and new schemes. Jamal Adams will be fun in this defense. Now, the wait for Harrison Smith’s return continues. 

All 257 Draft Picks Have Signed!

The start of training camp has always been a bit of a deadline for teams and draft picks to get a contract finalized. A first round quarterback is usually the last to sign. It’s always a quarterback. Well, it’s almost always a quarterback. This year, second-round edge Gabe Jacas was the last draft pick to sign his rookie contract. I tend to follow the draft pick-signing process more closely than I should. I was a little curious as to why the New England Patriots and Jacas took so long to come to an agreement. I was just never curious enough to look into the reason. Patriots rookies reported for training camp on 7/21. Jacas signed on 7/25. In this era of scripted rookie contracts, somehow, how is a second-round edge even a four-day holdout? That’s now in the past as all 257 of the players selected in the 2026 NFL Draft have signed. 

Here’s a look at the signed draft picks by round. 

First Round

1.   Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana - Signed

2.   New York Jets: David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech - Signed

3.   Arizona Cardinals: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame - Signed

4.   Tennessee Titans: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State - Signed

5.   New York Giants: Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State - Signed

6.   Kansas City Chiefs: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU - Signed

7.   Washington Commanders: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State - Signed

8.   New Orleans Saints: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State - Signed

9.   Cleveland Browns: Spencer Fano, OT, Utah - Signed

10. New York Giants: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami - Signed

11. Dallas Cowboys: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State - Signed

12. Miami Dolphins: Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama - Signed

13. Los Angeles Rams: Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama - Signed

14. Baltimore Ravens: Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State - Signed

15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Rueben Bain Jr., Edge, Miami - Signed

16. New York Jets: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon - Signed

17. Detroit Lions: Blake Miller, OT, Clemson - Signed 

18. Minnesota Vikings: Caleb Banks, DT, Florida - Signed

19. Carolina Panthers: Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia - Signed

20. Philadelphia Eagles: Makai Lemon, WR, USC - Signed

21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State - Signed

22. Los Angeles Chargers: Akheem Mesidor, Edge, Miami - Signed

23. Dallas Cowboys: Malachi Lawrence, Edge, UCF - Signed

24. Cleveland Browns: KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M - Signed

25. Chicago Bears: Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon - Signed

26. Houston Texans: Keylan Rutledge, G, Georgia Tech - Signed

27. Miami Dolphins: Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State - Signed

28. New England Patriots: Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah - Signed

29. Kansas City Chiefs: Peter Woods, DT, Clemson - Signed

30. New York Jets: Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana - Signed

31. Tennessee Titans: Keldric Faulk, Edge, Auburn - Signed

32. Seattle Seahawks: Jadarian Price, RB, Notre Dame - Signed

0/32 players are unsigned.

Second Round

0/32 players are unsigned.

Third Round

0/36 players are unsigned. 

Fourth Round

0/40 players are unsigned.

Fifth Round

0/41 players are unsigned.

Sixth Round

0/35 players are unsigned. 

Seventh Round

0/41 players are unsigned. 

All 257 Draft Picks Have Signed! Now I can focus on training camps. 

Minnesota Vikings Training Camp Is Here

Minnesota Vikings training camp is finally here. Honestly, the Vikings rookies are reporting to spectacular TCO Performance Center today. The rest of the team will report on Tuesday. But today is a start. It’s the next step in the return to real, on-field football stuff. It’s a great shift from just thoughts of it. 

Important Minnesota Vikings Training Camp Dates:

Rookies Report: Today!

Veterans Report: Tuesday, July 28

First Open Public Practice: Saturday, August 1

First Padded Practice: Monday, August 3

Night Practice @ TCO Stadium: Sunday, August 9

Preseason Game @ New York Giants: Saturday, August 15

Joint Practice w/Baltimore Ravens: Wednesday, August 19

Joint Practice w/Baltimore Ravens: Thursday. August 20

Preseason game vs Baltimore Ravens: Saturday, August 22

Preseason game @ Denver Broncos: Friday, August 28

Roster Trimming Time: Sunday, August 30

Vikings rip up the Green Bay Packers: Sunday, September 13

One of these years, I’m going to attend a Minnesota Vikings training camp. Every damn minute of one. Hopefully, I can fit a few of them into future schedules. I’ve always been a bit envious of those that grew up stomping around Mankato State and now TCO. It’s the price I paid in falling for a team half a country away from me. I’ve been following Vikings training camps for over 50 years. With the exception of 2001, every one has been a blast. 

Here are the Vikings rookies that are reporting to spectacular TCO Performance Center for their first training camp as NFL football players:

Draft Picks:

1. Caleb Banks, DL, Florida

2. Jake Golday, LB, Cincinnati

3. Domonique Orange, DL, Iowa State

3. Caleb Tiernan, OT, Northwestern

3. Jakobe Thomas, S, Miami

5. Max Bredeson, FB, Michigan

5. Charles Demmings, CB, Stephen F Austin

6. Demond Claiborne, RB, Wake Forest

7. Gavin Gerhardt. C, Cincinnati

For three months, I’ve been getting more and more excited about this draft class. I’ve tried to restrain myself because I did the same damn thing in 2022. I believed that Lewis Cine, Andrew Booth Jr., Brian Asamoah, and Akayleb Evans were going to become defensive fixtures for the Vikings. All were gone before the end of their rookie contracts. That 2022 draft class will go down as one of the worst in Vikings franchise history. I was excited about all of the players for all of the three months between the draft and training camp. As much as I’ve tried to reel in my excitement for the Vikings 2026 draft class, I’ve failed. I can’t wait to see the above nine players on the field. I believe that all but offensive linemen Caleb Tiernan and Gavin Gerhardt will earn impactful playing time as rookies. There isn’t an offensive line rotation like there is at other positions. It would take an injury to put Tiernan on the field. It would probably take 2025-level injuries to the offensive line to put Gerhardt on the field. Tiernan, in particular, was drafted for a significant future role.

Undrafted Free Agents:

Marcus Allen, CB, North Carolina

Da’Veawn Armstead, CB, North Texas

Dillon Bell, WR, Georgia

Michael Briscoe, WR, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo

Tyreek Chappell, CB, Texas A&M

Terrill Davis, WR, Oklahoma State

Bangally Kamara, LB, Kansas

Keli Lawson, LB, UCF

Tristan Leigh, OT, Clemson

Delby Lemieux, OL, Dartmouth

Kejon Owens, RB, Florida International

Tomas Rimac, OL, Virginia Tech

Trayvon Rudolph, WR, Toledo

Marcus Sanders, Jr., WR, Georgia Southern

Cam’Ron Stewart, OLB, Temple

Jacob Thomas, S, James Madison

Brett Thorson, P, Georgia

Smith Vilbert, DL, North Carolina

Arden Walker, OLB, Colorado

Lyke Wysong, WR, Arizona

Training Camp is finally here for the Minnesota Vikings rookies. 

An Intriguing Player From Each Vikings Position Group

The Minnesota Vikings rookies report to spectacular TCO Performance Center tomorrow. The veterans report on Tuesday. Vikings football is nearly here. About 99% of the attention will be on the quarterbacks but there are intriguing players throughout the roster. Here’s a look at a player from each of the Vikings position groups that I’m intrigued to see.

Quarterback

Nothing to see here. Actually there’s a lot to see. What I’m most intrigued to see is if the coverage, local and national, is focused more on the field than the possible drama off it. 

Running Back

Demond Claiborne

Of course, it’s the speedy sixth-round rookie. We know what the Vikings have in the running back duo of Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason. Even at the age of 33, Jones can do everything you want from a running back. Run, catch, block. But, he’s 33. Mason is a terrific, between-the-tackles runner. He has excellent vision. Jones and Mason are a solid duo. The Vikings need a much more efficient run game than they’ve had in years. Former Miami Dolphins offensive coordinator Frank Smith was hired as assistant head coach to add some flavor to the run schemes. Those schemes brought the best out of Dolphins back De’Von Achane. Demond Claiborne has some of the speedy traits of Achane. Claiborne is the wildcard of the Vikings running back room.

Receiver

Jauan Jennings

When Jalen Nailor bolted to the Las Vegas Raiders in free agency, the Vikings were in need of a new WR3. Jauan Jennings was the ideal replacement but felt unattainable. Reports had him looking for a contract close to high #2 or low #1 money. Still available after the draft, those contract hopes either vanished or never existed in the first place. The Vikings signed him for one season for less than the Raiders paid Nailor. I like Nailor but Jennings is an upgrade. With Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and Jauan Jennings, the Vikings have the best receiver trio in the league. Jennings might not have the speed of Nailor but he provides so much versatility. In particular, he’s a force as a blocker. He brings some physicality to the offense. Some might even call it some “nasty.” Kyler Murray called him a “dirtbag” from their days competing against each other in the NFC West. The Vikings have been something of a finesse offense in recent years. They could use some “nasty.”

Tight End

T.J. Hockenson

I just want to see T.J. Hockenson get back to being the player he was before that shithead in Detroit shredded his knees. 

Offensive Line

Blake Brandel

Of course, it’s the Vikings new center. Blake Brandel has been a reliable and versatile lineman for years. He was drafted as an offensive tackle and started a season at left guard. Before last season, he’d played every offensive line position but center. Injuries forced him to take the first snaps of his life at center. He showed enough promise at the position that the Vikings didn’t feel that they had to find a center in free agency or the draft. It appears that Brandel has this season to prove that he can be the Vikings long term starter at the position.

Defensive Line

Elijah Williams

I could pick the rookies Caleb Banks and Domonique Orange. I could pick emerging Jalen Redmond. The Vikings have a really interesting defensive line group. I could pick any of them. I’m going with Elijah Williams. Undrafted in 2025, he’s proof that the NFL refuse to properly scout the HBCUs. Williams showed NFL potential at Morgan State. He probably showed more NFL potential at an HBCU than Levi Drake Rodriguez showed at itty bitty Texas A&M-Commerce. Rodriguez was drafted in the seventh round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Williams should’ve been drafted in the 2025 NFL Draft. The lack of respect for the HBCUs is ludicrous. In this case, that lack of respect helped the Vikings land Elijah Williams as an undrafted free agent. I expect him to emerge this season in the Vikings defensive line rotation. 

Edge

Jake Golday

The Vikings selected Jake Golday in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft. He was drafted as a linebacker. It’s believed that he was really drafted to be the eventual replacement for the ridiculously versatile Andrew Van Ginkel. With his preternatural instincts, it doesn’t feel like Van Ginkel will ever be properly replaced. Golday does appear to possess similar versatility. The Vikings don’t have any proven depth behind edge starters Van Ginkel and Dallas Turner. Golday might help out in that department as soon as this year.

Linebacker

Jake Golday

It’s that rookie again. Jake Golday is going to have a lot on his plate. While I believe that he was drafted to eventually replace Andrew Van Ginkel, I also believe that he will start out off-the-ball and be peppered in as a pass rusher. How much he’ll be peppered in will be dependent on how much he can handle. 

Cornerback

Chuck Demmings

The Vikings drafted intriguing players at each level of the defense. I wouldn’t be surprised if Chuck Demmings quickly emerges as one of my favorite Vikings players. He has electric talent on the field and he has an electric personality. He’s a fun football player and person. Byron Murphy Jr. and Isaih Rodgers are solid starters. The Vikings strengthened their cornerback room this offseason with the free agency signing of James Pierre. Demmings might still earn increasing defensive snaps through the season. 

Safety

Jakobe Thomas

Another of the team’s rookies. Of the defensive rookies, it’s easy to pick defensive tackles Caleb Banks and Domonique Orange as the most likely to start. Jakobe Thomas is probably the next most likely. 

Specialists

Brett Thorson

It’s gotta be the undrafted Australian punter. Brett Thorson will compete with veteran Johnny Hekker. If it wasn’t for the fact that Thorson never held in college, he might’ve won the job before training camp opened. After the Vikings lost Ryan Wright in free agency, I liked the signing of Hekker to replace him. He’s been one of the league’s best punters for more than a decade. Unfortunately, he’s been in the league for more than a decade. If the competition was dependent only on punting, it’s Thorson. This competition will probably come down to holding. Thorson better be a quick study. 

Minnesota Vikings Coaching Staffs: Then And Now

Minnesota Vikings Hall of Fame coach Bud Grant often expressed his curiosity surrounding the size of modern football coaching staffs.

“What do all those coaches do?”

Those might not be his exact words but it reflects his surprise and curiosity over recent coaching excesses. One could argue that today’s NFL is far more complicated than the NFL of Bud Grant’s day. They’d be right. In Grant’s day, offenses routinely trotted out two backs, two receivers, and a single tight end lined up tight against a tackle. The entire offensive line actually followed football’s rule that all members of the group come set on the line of scrimmage. Offenses simply played base on all downs and most situations. A third receiver might replace a back or the tight end in desperate situations.  Defenses simply played base on all downs and situations. The only specialists were on special teams. Simple stuff. 

Apparently the complicating of football resulted in an explosion of coaching staffs. Here’s a look at the coaching staff that Kevin O’Connell will bring to Eagan in a couple days. 

2026 Minnesota Vikings Coaches

Head Coach: Kevin O’Connell

Assistant Head Coach: Frank Smith

Offensive Coordinator: Wes Phillips

Defensive Coordinator: Brian Flores

Special Teams Coordinator: Matt Daniels

Offense:

QBs/Pass Game Coordinator: Josh McCown

Assistant QB/Pass Game Specialist: Jordan Traylor

Assistant Offensive Coordinator: Chris O’Hara

RBs/Run Game Coordinator: Curtis Modkins

Receivers: Keenan McCardell

Assistant Receivers: Derron Montgomery

TEs/Pass Game Coordinator: Ryan Cordell

Offensive Line: Keith Carter

Assistant Offensive Line: Derek Warehime

Offensive Quality Control: Kyle Caskey

Offensive Assistant: Ben Ellefson

Assistant to the Head Coach: Henry Schneider IV

Defense:

DL/Run Game Coordinator: Ryan Nielsen

Assistant Defensive Line: Patrick Hill

Outside LBs: Thad Bogardus

Inside LBs/Senior Defensive Assistant: Mike Siravo 

Assistant LBs: Dalmin Gibson

DBs/Pass Game Coordinator: Gerald Alexander

Assistant DBs: Chenzo Funari

Defensive Assistant: Charlie Frye

Defensive Assistant: Will Johnson

Special Teams:

Assistant Special Teams: Chili Davis

That’s 27 coaches. If you want to include the strength and performance coaches:

Minnesota Vikings Strength and Performance Coaches:

Head Strength and Performance Coach: Joe Distor Jr.

Assistant Strength and Performance Coach: Marquis Johnson

Assistant Strength and Performance Coach: Chad Bari

Assistant Strength and Performance Coach/Head of Applied Sports Science: Dan Ridenour

That bumps the number of Vikings coaches to 31. 

58 years ago, Bud Grant brought the following coaching staff to Mankato for training camp.

1968 Minnesota Vikings Coaches

Head Coach: Bud Grant

Offensive Coach: Jerry Burns

Defensive Line Coach: Bob Hollway

Defensive Backfield Coach: Jim Carr

Offensive Line Coach: John Michels 

Offensive Backfield: Bus Mertes

Six coaches. 6! 6!!

There wasn’t a need for strength and performance coaches because teams didn’t have a strength and performance program. 

In 1968, an NFL roster was 40 players. At 31 coaches, the Vikings 2026 coaching staff is nearly the size of the Vikings 1968 roster. 

1968: 1 coach for every 6.7 players

2026: 1 coach for every 1.7 players

If the NFL gets any more complicated, will we be seeing one coach for every player? 

The NFL has seen a lot of change since Bud Grant’s days. One of the greatest changes might be the five-fold increase in the size of coaching staffs.