Minnesota Vikings Coaches

Every NFL offseason brings changes. That’s especially true for teams that didn’t make the playoffs. The first changes often involve the coaches. At least the Minnesota Vikings aren’t one of the eight teams looking for a new head coach. At a minimum, head coach Kevin O’Connell will be/is looking for a new safeties coach. Michael Hutchings was hired in 2023 to assist with the defensive backs. He was promoted to safeties coach in 2024. In three years, he’s impressed and his future is bright. It’s so bright, that Cal hired him to be the defensive coordinator for new head coach Tosh Lupoi. As a Vikings fan, I hate to see him go. As a Cal alumnus, I love the hire. It’s a fine line. If the Vikings lose only Hutchings, it will be a nice offseason. As has been the case since he was hired after the 2022 season, the annual Brian Flores watch is on. He’s been a revelation as the Vikings defensive coordinator. He’s deserving of a head coach opportunity. He’s been kept from that opportunity by a controversial three-year stint as the Miami Dolphins, a lawsuit against the league, and perhaps a splash of racism amongst a collection of rich, white owners. Personally, I want Flores to be handling the Vikings defense for eternity. Honestly, he deserves another shot at running a team. This is the third offseason that the Vikings have waited for Flores to wade through the head coach opportunities available to him. So far this year, the Baltimore Ravens are the only team that has requested an interview. He has that interview this week. If Flores does get that deserved opportunity to run a team, the Vikings top internal candidate to replace him is probably pass game coordinator/defensive backs coach Daronte Jones. The problem there is that he’s drawn the interest from a teams across the league with defensive coordinator needs. He interviewed with some teams last year and he’s getting interview requests this year. If the Vikings were to lose both, it’d create some huge defensive coaching holes. 

As for the rest of the Vikings coaching staff, it’s wait and see. Some might see needed changes with the offensive line coaches. The offensive line has been an issue for more than a decade. An overhaul of the interior of the line last offseason was a big reason for optimism going into the season. Due to a ridiculous run of injuries, they were a problem rather than a solution. Line coach Chris Kuper and assistant Keith Carter rarely knew what players would be available until a game’s first snap. It’s tough to get a group ready to play when you never know who might make up that group. The Vikings offensive line must play better. That’s obvious. My belief is that the problems this year were simply because of the injuries. While I lean towards giving Kuper and Carter a pass on this past year and an opportunity for another year, I can’t help but think of the coaches that seem to get solid line play no matter the players available. The Vikings special teams got some criticism through the season. There were some glaring mistakes but, overall, each of the groups played well and seemed to grade well. I think Matt Daniels and Dalmin Gibson are safe. 

At the moment, here’s the Vikings coaching staff. 

Minnesota Vikings Coaching Staff

Head Coach: Kevin O’Connell

Assistant Head Coach: Mike Pettine

Offensive Coordinator: Wes Phillips

Defensive Coordinator: Brian Flores

Special Teams Coordinator: Matt Daniels

Offense:

Quarterbacks: Josh McCown

Assistant Offensive Coordinator/Assistant Quarterbacks: Jordan Traylor

Senior Offensive Assistant: Chris O’Hara

Run Game Coordinator/Running Backs: Curtis Modkins

Receivers: Keenan McCardell

Assistant Receivers: Tony Sorrentino

Pass Game Coodinator/Tight Ends: Brian Angelichio

Offensive Line: Chris Kuper

Assistant Offensive Line: Keith Carter

Pass Game Specialist/Game Management Coordinator: Ryan Cordell

Quality Control: Derron Montgomery

Offensive Assistant: Ben Ellefson

Assistant to the Head Coach: Henry Schneider IV

Defense:

Defensive Line: Marcus Dixon

Assistant Defensive Line: Imarjaye Albury Sr.

Inside Linebackers: Mike Siravo

Outside Linebackers: Thad Bogardus

Assistant Outside Linebackers: Patrick Hill

Pass Game Coordinator/Defensive Backs: Daronte Jones

Safeties: ?

Quality Control: Chenzo Funari

Defensive Assistant: Charlie Frye

Special Teams:

Assistant Special Teams: Dalmin Gibson