Vikings Coaches: The NFL Carousel Update

Minnesota Vikings Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores addressed the media from the TCO Performance Center on July 25th, 2024. Flores was hired in February 2023 to take over for Ed Donatell after Minnesota finished 30th in points allowed. The Minnesota Vikings’ 2024 season ended three and a half weeks ago, losing in Round 1 of the playoffs to the Los Angeles Rams. Vikings Coaches: The NFL Carousel Update NFL free agency is less than five weeks away and the 2025 NFL Draft six weeks after that. Meanwhile, five Vikings coaches and executives have received attention in the NFL’s annual coaching carousel. These are the statuses of those five men, listed in alphabetical order. 1. Brian FloresDefensive Coordinator Minnesota Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores addressed the media from the TCO Performance Center on October 16th, 2024. Flores was hired in February 2023 to take over for Ed Donatell after Minnesota finished 30th in points allowed. Three organizations, the Chicago Bears, the Jacksonville Jaguars, and the New York Jets, interviewed Flores for head coaching positions. None hired Flores. 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 be granted (or want?) a last-minute chat. The Saints are trending toward hiring Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, per the rumor mill. Status: All but Certainly Returning to Minnesota. 2. Ryan GrigsonSenior Vice President of Player Personnel Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports Grigson danced in the New York Jets’ search for a new general manager, though most didn’t consider him a serious frontrunner. New York hired Darren Mougey a couple of weeks ago, an assistant general manager with the Denver Broncos for the last few years, and that’s that for Grigson’s GM chances in 2025. He’ll be back in the Twin Cities. Status: Returning to Minnesota. 3. Daronte Jones Defensive Passing Game Coordinator Minnesota Vikings defensive passing game coordinator Daronte Jones. Picture taken at Louisiana State University on April 1st, 2021. Jones coached on Mike Zimmer’s Vikings staff in 2020, went to LSU as defensive coordinator, and ended up with the Vikings again in 2022 under head coach Kevin O’Connell. A late addition to the coaching carousel, Jones could’ve joined a Vikings rival, the Chicago Bears. But Chicago hired former New Orleans Saints head coach Dennis Allen. Then, Jones also interviewed with the Jacksonville Jaguars, a position that is still vacant. Status: Could Still Be Hired by Jaguars; a Verdict Should Arrive Soon. 4. Josh McCownQB Coach Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports. 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 quarterback days. The rumor mill also hinted this offseason that McCown wouldn’t leave Minnesota for an offensive coordinator assignment — he wants a head coach job. Status: All but Certainly Returning to Minnesota. 5. Grant Udinski Asst. QB Coach Image Courtesy of Vikings.com. Grant Udinski (U-din-skee) enters his third season with Minnesota and second as assistant quarterbacks coach in 2024, previously serving as the assistant to the head coach/special projects in 2022. Prior to joining the Vikings staff, Udinski was a coaching assistant for the Carolina Panthers from 2020-21. Udinski is a Jaguar. Jaguars.com wrote late Wednesday night, “The Jacksonville Jaguars have agreed to terms with Grant Udinski to become the team’s offensive coordinator, the team announced today.” Coen said about Udinski as his new OC, “Grant will bring a wealth of knowledge, energy and a winning mindset to help lead our offense here in Jacksonville. He is a rising star in this league that has been a pillar of success for the Vikings organization and we can’t wait to have him lead our offense.” The Vikings will need a new assistant quarterbacks coach. Udinski is the one who got away. Status: Gone; Udinski will serve as the Jacksonville Jaguars’ offensive coordinator. 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.