Another Former Vikings Coach Joins Hated Rival

First, it was Klint Kubiak and the recent announcement that the San Francisco 49ers’ passing game coordinator would join the New Orleans Saints’ coaching staff in 2024 as offensive coordinator. San Francisco lost the Super Bowl on Sunday night to the Kansas City Chiefs, and Kubiak will head to the NFC South for the New Orleans post.

Another Former Vikings Coach Joins Hated Rival

Kubiak served as the Vikings’ offensive coordinator in 2021 but wasn’t retained in 2022 after Minnesota’s ownership cleaned house by firing general manager Rick Spielman and head coach Mike Zimmer.

And per former Vikings coaches, Kubiak won’t be alone. Andrew Janocko, who worked for the Vikings in seven seasons, will join Kubiak on the Saints’ new coaching staff.

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler tweeted Friday, “Saints are expected to hire Andrew Janocko as quarterbacks coach, per sources. Janocko has worked closely with Kirk Cousins and Justin Fields, now set to coach Derek Carr.”

It’s debatable whether Fields improved or blossomed on Janocko’s watch. The former Buckeye joined Chicago from the 2021 NFL Draft, and many had high hopes for Fields. He’s shown flashes of promise at various points in three seasons, but as of February 12th, Chicago is expected to trade Fields in the next 2.5 months and draft Caleb Williams or Drake Maye in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Regardless, Janocko will begin his next chapter with Derek Carr in New Orleans, a quarterback who frequently lives in a “Kirk Cousins tier” of stardom, although Cousins’ numbers are consistently more productive. Cousins fired off his best season as a pro on Janocko’s watch in 2021 when Janocko filled the Vikings’ quarterback coach assignment. We shall see if he can do the same for Carr, who turns 32 next month.

Here’s Janocko’s NFL resume since 2015:

Under 2023 offensive coordinator Peter Carmichael Jr., the aforementioned Carr passed for 3,878 passing yards, 25 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions. He ranked 15th leaguewide per EPA+CPOE. Janocko and Kubiak hope to drag that mark closer to the Top 10.

The Saints’ offense ranked 17th per DVOA in 2023.

Before transitioning to the Vikings in 2015, Janocko worked as a graduate assistant at Rutgers (2011), an offensive quality control coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2012-2013), and a quarterbacks coach at Mercyhurst (2014).

Janocko will turn 36 in April.

Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).

All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.