The Status of All Vikings Coaches in NFL Carousel
The Minnesota Vikings’ 2024 season ended two weeks ago with a whimper against the Los Angeles Rams.
The Status of All Vikings Coaches in NFL Carousel
Minnesota’s offseason is in full swing, and free agency kicks off in six weeks.
Along the way, five Vikings coaches and executives have received nibbles in the NFL’s annual coaching carousel.
These are the statuses of those five personalities, listed in alphabetical order.
1. Brian Flores
Defensive Coordinator
Three teams, the Chicago Bears, the Jacksonville Jaguars, and the New York Jets, interviewed Flores for head coaching positions.
Now, all those teams have new skippers not named Brian Flores, so it seems the NFL has passed over the defensive mastermind for HC gigs in four consecutive offseasons.
It’s worth noting that the New Orleans Saints still have an open head coaching vacancy, but Flores has not interviewed for it and probably won’t get (or want?) a last-minute chat.
Status: Probably Returning to the Minnesota.
2. Ryan Grigson
Senior Vice President of Player Personnel
Grigson twisted in the New York Jets’ search for a new general manager, though most didn’t consider him much of a frontrunner.
New York hired Darren Mougey over the weekend, an assistant general manager with the Denver Broncos for the last few years, and that’s that for Grigson’s GM chances in 2025.
Status: Returning to Minnesota.
3. Daronte Jones
Defensive Passing Game Coordinator
A late addition to the coaching carousel, Jones could’ve joined a Vikings rival.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport tweeted Thursday, “The Bears have requested to interview passing game coordinator/DBs coach Daronte Jones for their defensive coordinator position, source said. Jones is highly respected having worked with defensive minds such as Brian Flores, Vance Joseph, and Marvin Lewis, among others.”
But Chicago hired former New Orleans Saints head coach Dennis Allen over the weekend.
Status: Returning to Minnesota barring last-minute interview.
4. Josh McCown
QB Coach
Like Flores listed above, McCown interviewed for the Jets’ head coaching position, even if he was a longshot to grab the post. McCown had ties to New York from his playing days.
The rumor mill also hinted this offseason that McCown wouldn’t leave Minnesota for an offensive coordinator assignment — he wants a head coach gig.
Status: Returning to Minnesota barring last-minute interview.
5. Grant Udinski
Asst. QB Coach
The one man preventing Minnesota from a clean sweep — in a good way — is the assistant quarterback coach, who is all the rage right now for offensive coordinator interviews.
The guy credited with mentoring J.J. McCarthy during his rookie season has discussed OC jobs with the Jacksonville Jaguars, New England Patriots, Seattle Seahawks, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
If someone will leave the purple team’s coaching staff in the next couple of days, it’ll be this guy.
Status: Verdict Still Out — Udinski Could Join Jaguars or Buccaneers staff.
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 Vikings 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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