The Jets Want a Piece of 3 Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings visit the postseason this week, taking on the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Monday Night Football.
The Jets Want a Piece of 3 Vikings
In the meantime, three Vikings personalities have evidently become hot commodities, and those men are being pursued by the New York Jets.
New York cleaned house recently and needs a new general manager and head coach. So, they’re trying the Vikings personnel on for size.
1. Brian Flores
Head Coach Interview
The Jets requested permission to interview Flores early this week, who is responsible for the NFL’s second-best defense in 2024 per EPA/Play.
Flores has stated this season that he wants to be a head coach again but that he will be particular about his destination after dealings went pear-shaped with the Miami Dolphins three years ago. The Jets aren’t terribly successful, and in fact, are the butt of jokes regarding dysfunctional organizations.
If anyone can stabilize a franchise, however, it might be Flores.
2. Josh McCown
Head Coach Interview
ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweeted Monday, “Jets have requested head coaching interviews with Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores and QB coach Josh McCown, per sources.”
McCown is fresh off the steam of helping quarterback Sam Darnold totally reclaim his career in Minnesota, and New York evidently wants to snoop around his interest in becoming a head coach — or perhaps make him the offensive coordinator under the eventual hire. Stay tuned.
Minnesota hired McCown last offseason and immediately paired him with Darnold, who constructed a magnificent regular season in 2024, accounting for 36 total touchdowns and fringe MVP mentions. Head coach Kevin O’Connell often gets the credit for Darnold’s surge, but McCown is right in the mix, too.
McCown and Darnold were teammates in New York, so McCown certainly has ties to the Jets.
3. Ryan Grigson
General Manager Interview
The Athletic’s Dianna Russini tweeted Monday, “The New York Jets have requested to speak to Vikings senior VP of player personnel Ryan Grigson, per source.”
Grigson arrived in the Twin Cities at the dawn of the Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Kevin O’Connell era (2022) and has served as senior vice president of player personnel since. Some purple fans have “blamed” Grigson, in part, for some of the poor draft choices since 2022, but little evidence corroborates the theory.
He’s most famous for selecting Andrew Luck in the 2012 NFL Draft as the Colts’ general manager. On Grigson’s watch, Indianapolis showcased a 49-31 (.613) winning percentage.
It’s worth noting that former Vikings general manager Rick Spielman is acting as a consultant amid the Jets’ GM and HC search.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His MIN obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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