![\"Brian](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/NFL-NFC-Wild-Card-Round-Minnesota-Vikings-at-Los-Angeles-Rams-25203016-scaled-e1770236418552.jpg\")
Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCredit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
Over the past couple of offseasons the Minnesota Vikings have kept the key parts of their coaching staff intact. Kevin O\u2019Connell, Wes Phillips, and Brian Flores will again all return<\/a> for the 2026 season.<\/p>\n As was the case with Grant Udinski last season, who left to coordinate the Jacksonville Jaguars<\/a> offense, Minnesota has continued to lose coaches in primary position-coaching roles. Defensive passing game coordinator\/DB\u2019s coach Daronte Jones landed a promotion<\/a> with the Washington Commanders, and now there\u2019s another coach with that title leaving, this time on the offensive side of the ball.<\/p>\n Brian Angelichio leaves Minnesota Vikings for Pittsburgh<\/p>\n It\u2019s a new era for the Pittsburgh Steelers after head coach Mike Tomlin stepped away following 19 years<\/a> at the helm. Former Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy was then named the new head coach in Pittsburgh and he continues to round out his staff. That will now include former MN Vikings passing game coordinator\/TE\u2019s coach Brian Angelichio.<\/p>\n Vikings made a strong push to keep Angelichio, a key Kevin O\u2019Connell assistant the last four years. In the end, he becomes a coordinator in Pittsburgh. https:\/\/t.co\/mZnP0YzSCZ<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) February 4, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Although Kevin O\u2019Connell calls plays, plenty of his staff underneath offensive coordinator Wes Phillips have landed elsewhere. Ben Goessling (Star Tribune)<\/a> called Angelichio a, \u201cconfidant and sounding board\u201d, <\/a> for O\u2019Connell over the past four seasons. While being the passing game coordinator, Angelichio also coached the Vikings tight ends.<\/p>\n Considering how much O\u2019Connell depends upon his top offensive assistants, the person that steps into the role will quickly need to jive with the head coach.<\/p>\n Earlier this offseason the Minnesota Vikings hired former Miami Dolphins offensive coordinator Frank Smith to come in<\/a> as assistant head coach. He was viewed as a prominent coordinator as recently as 2023. So, there\u2019s reason to believe he can be a difference maker, but Minnesota is still down a net total of one coach.<\/p>\n Smith, and recently promoted offensive line coach Keith Carter are expected to have significant input on offense. Still, O\u2019Connell will need to backfill another passing game coordinator position with the departure of Angelichio.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMentioned in this article: Brian Angelichio<\/a> <\/p>\n More About:Minnesota Vikings<\/a><\/p>\n Add MinnesotaSportsFan as a preferred source on Google. \t\t\t![\"Add](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/google_preferred_source_badge.png\"){kind=icon}
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