Vikings Coaching Shakeup, Super Bowl LX Fallout and HOF Buzz
The offseason work to get the Vikings back to the playoffs next season is well underway, as the team is now preparing for the pre-draft Combine, which begins February 23, and free agency, which kicks off March 9. Meanwhile, the first critical task for coach Kevin O’Connell has been to make several changes to his coaching staff, and that process is basically complete.
As I’ve often said, don’t underestimate the importance of top-notch assistant coaches at any level of football, as they are the teachers of the game and are responsible for ensuring their players know and execute their assignments on every play, improve their techniques, and motivate them to peak performance.
Coaching Changes, Super Bowl Aftermath And Hall Of Fame Impact On The Vikings
I’m always amazed at the number of assistant coaches on NFL teams today—24 for the Vikings —compared to my early years with the team, when Bud Grant had six assistant coaches: three on each side of the ball, and our running backs coach, Bus Mertes, handled the special teams. It’s all part of the evolution of pro football into America’s greatest spectator sport.
Defensive coordinator Brian Flores is obviously the most important assistant coach for O’Connell (who runs the offense, thus lessening the role of offensive coordinator Wes Phillips). Flores is back for his third season with the Vikings, which bodes well for the defense to continue its fine play (third-ranked last season).
But the departure of passing game coordinator/defensive backs coach Daronte Jones (now the Commanders’ DC) left a key opening, which has been filled by Gerald Alexander, who was the Steelers’ DB coach last season.
Alexander comes with a fine reputation, but the secondary coach has to do a great job with his cornerbacks and safeties to ensure there are no blown coverages in man-to-man and zone coverage against the talented receiving corps around the league, and that the blitz calls are well executed, which was a strength of Harrison Smith as he worked with Jones.
Another new hire on defense is defensive running game coordinator/defensive line coach Ryan Nielsen, who was a senior defensive assistant in Buffalo last season and previously served as defensive coordinator in Jacksonville, Atlanta, and New Orleans.
After Chris Kuper was not retained as offensive line coach, the assistant O-line coach, Keith Carter, was elevated to replace him. This is obviously a key spot on the offensive staff as Carter must get the O-line playing at a higher level in run blocking (23rd ranked rushing attack last season) and pass protection (60 sacks allowed, tied for second-most with injuries a problem up front and many of those sacks due to J.J. McCarthy and Max Brosmer holding the ball too long but the O-line must be better overall for the Vikings offense to improve). Carter was the Jets and Titans O-line coach before joining the Vikings last season.
Frank Smith has joined the coaching staff as an assistant head coach. He replaced Mike Pettine and served as Miami’s offensive coordinator for the last four years. Smith has 17 years of experience in the NFL coaching ranks, so he should be a good addition to help O’Connell and Phillips formulate offensive game plans.
With OTAs set to begin in mid-April, the new coaches must quickly learn the Vikings’ offensive and defensive schemes so they’re ready to assume the critical role of teaching the players at their positions.
Super Bowl Reactions
The statement “defense wins championships” rang true in Super Bowl LX. The Seahawks’ defense was dominant in holding the Patriots scoreless for three quarters. They forced three Drake Maye turnovers—leading to 17 points — and sacked him six times. The early blitzes and front-four pressure clearly rattled the second-year QB as he missed several open receivers.
It was a throwback game, similar to last year’s Super Bowl, when the Eagles’ defense and running game were key to the win over the Chiefs. Seattle’s running game controlled time of possession as game MVP Kenneth Walker rushed for 135 yards. But the MVP could just as well have gone to the entire Seahawks’ D.
Sam Darnold completed only 50% of his passes and missed a couple of big-play chances, but he didn’t turn it over and made enough key completions to balance the Seattle offense, finishing with 202 passing yards. He did a nice job of evading pressure several times when he had Pats DT Milton Williams closing in.
The Seattle special teams also played a big role, with Jason Myers converting all five of his field goal attempts, and Michael Dickson averaging 47.9 yards per punt, and had three punts inside the 20.
The Vikings and other teams can lean into the Seahawks’ Super Bowl-winning formula in 2026 with a strong defense, effective running game, and a quarterback who protects the ball, which Darnold did in the postseason with no turnovers after leading the league in the regular season with 20 giveaways.
One thing to watch as the Seahawks try to repeat next season is how well head coach Mike Macdonald does at finding a new offensive coordinator to replace ex-Vikings OC Klint Kubiak, who has been hired as the Raiders’ new head coach.
That will be critical for Darnold, who had a great connection with Kubiak. We’ve seen how coordinator changes can damage a team, with Detroit a prime example last season after losing both Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn to head coaching jobs (and the Lions fell from the NFC’s top seed in 2024 to out of the playoffs).
Fitzgerald and Craig to Hall of Fame
Congrats to two members of the 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame class who have Vikings ties. Larry Fitzgerald Jr. is a Minneapolis native who was an 11-time Pro Bowl receiver for the Cardinals. I first met Larry when he was a Vikings ballboy as a teenager. He’s done terrific things on and off the field through football camps and local donations through his First Down Fund. Larry was deservedly selected to the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.
Roger Craig was selected via the Senior Committee. After an outstanding career as a four-time Pro Bowler and one of the greatest dual-purpose running backs, along with being a three-time Super Bowl champ with the 49ers, he played two seasons for the Vikings to finish his career. Roger is one of my favorite players from my Vikings front-office years, as he was so friendly and a class act on and off the field.
The other members of the 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame class are Drew Brees, Luke Kuechly, and Adam Vinatieri. But surprisingly, no Bill Belichick this year, although he’s sure to be in the 2027 class.
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