{"id":730078,"date":"2026-02-05T01:03:19","date_gmt":"2026-02-05T01:03:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/730078\/"},"modified":"2026-02-05T01:03:19","modified_gmt":"2026-02-05T01:03:19","slug":"six-coaches-have-left-the-vikings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/730078\/","title":{"rendered":"Six Coaches Have Left the Vikings"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you think the Minnesota Vikings are \u201crunning it back\u201d with their coaching staff, that just isn\u2019t the case. Over the last few weeks, the club has lost six coaches and counting, mostly to promotions, while head coach Kevin O\u2019Connell<\/a> continues to backfill the positions.<\/p>\n

Six departures have piled up, forcing Minnesota to reshuffle some jobs early in the 2026 offseason. <\/p>\n

Yes, O\u2019Connell\u2019s coaching tree is germinating.<\/p>\n

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Six Departures Change O\u2019Connell\u2019s Staff<\/p>\n

The 2026 offseason didn\u2019t skimp on purple coaching changes.<\/p>\n

\"Brian<\/p>\n

Brian Angelichio oversees practice duties at Hanbury Manor during the Vikings\u2019 international session in Thundridge, captured on Sep 30, 2022, as Minnesota prepared offensive installations abroad. The image reflects Angelichio\u2019s role in coordinating tight ends and passing concepts while players adjusted to travel, schedule changes, and a condensed preparation window. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

Brian Angelichio (offensive passing game)<\/p>\n

New Job: Pittsburgh Steelers Offensive Coordinator<\/p>\n

Angelichio departed Minnesota on Wednesday, heading to Mike McCarthy\u2019s new staff in Pittsburgh. NFL Network\u2019s Ian Rapoport tweeted<\/a>, \u201cThe Steelers are finalizing a deal to hire Vikings passing game coordinator Brian Angelichio as their new offensive coordinator, per me and Tom Pelissero. Angelichio, also the TEs coach, is back with coach Mike McCarthy. They were together in Green Bay.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s the top job Angelichio has held in college and professional football through 30 years, and he\u2019ll inherit a stout offensive line, along with wide receiver DK Metcalf, running back Jaylen Warren \u2014 and perhaps even Aaron Rodgers.<\/p>\n

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Minnesota will need a new passing game coordinator on offense.<\/p>\n

Marcus Dixon (defensive line)<\/p>\n

New Job: Dallas Cowboys Defensive Line Coach<\/p>\n

Dixon\u2019s contract wasn\u2019t renewed this offseason; he evidently stayed his welcome. But in Dallas, he\u2019ll work for Brian Schottenheimer and notably lead defensive tackles like Quinnen Williams<\/a> and Kenny Clark. Life would be easier for Dixon if Micah Parsons still patrolled Dallas\u2019s defense, but that\u2019s not possible after the Cowboys shipped him to Green Bay five months ago.<\/p>\n

Ryan Nielson, who interviewed for the Vikings\u2019 defensive coordinator position in 2023, will take over Dixon\u2019s spot after notably coordinating the Jacksonville Jaguars\u2019 defense in 2024.<\/p>\n

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Michael Hutchings (safeties)<\/p>\n

New Job: University of California Defensive Coordinator<\/p>\n

Hutchings actually left town in December before the end of the regular season, jumping at the chance to lead the Cal Bears\u2019 defense.<\/p>\n

SI.com\u2018s Jeff Faraudo wrote around Christmas<\/a>, \u201cNew Cal football coach Tosh Lupoi continues to assemble a young staff of assistants, officially announcing the hiring on Friday of Minnesota Vikings assistant Michael Hutchings as the Bears\u2019 defensive coordinator.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHutchings, a Bay Area native who was a prep All-American at De La Salle High School and played linebacker at USC, comes to Cal later three seasons coaching defensive backs with the Vikings, the past two years as safeties coach. In that role, he worked with former Cal star Cam Bynum<\/a>, who had three interceptions during the 2024 NFL season.\u201d<\/p>\n

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The Vikings\u2019 safety job remains vacant in early February.<\/p>\n

Daronte Jones (defensive passing game)<\/p>\n

New Job: Washington Commanders Defensive Coordinator<\/p>\n

Perhaps the biggest news of this coaching style \u2014 after Brian Flores signing an extension to remain with the Vikings \u2014 Jones will get his crack at an NFL defense all by himself. He spent five seasons in Minnesota, but left for a year in 2021 to coach LSU\u2019s defense.<\/p>\n

Jones won\u2019t walk into a dream situation, yet he\u2019ll have the tutelage of head coach Dan Quinn, who comes from a staunch defensive background.<\/p>\n

These players are already on Jones\u2019s depth chart: Trey Amos (CB), Javon Kinlaw (DT), Frankie Luvu (LB), Jer\u2019Zhan Newton<\/a> (DT), Daron Payne (DT), Jeremy Reaves (S), and Mike Sainristil (CB).<\/p>\n

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Minnesota hired Steelers defensive backs coach Gerald Alexander to replace Jones. SteelersNow\u2018s Chris Ward on Alexander<\/a>: \u201cAlexander is a big loss for the Steelers, especially with how cornerback Joey Porter Jr. developed under his stewardship.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe spent the 2024 season with the Las Vegas Raiders as a safeties coach under defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, who\u2019s now the DC with the Steelers. Alexander will work under defensive coordinator Brian Flores in Minnesota. Flores was a finalist for the Steelers\u2019 head coach position.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chris Kuper (offensive line)<\/p>\n

New Job: N\/A<\/p>\n

The Vikings\u2019 offensive line underachieved in 2025, even after formulating a formidable fivesome that included Christian Darrisaw, Donovan Jackson, Ryan Kelly, Will Fries, and Brian O\u2019Neill. Injuries rattled the unit, too, and the trenches never really found their groove.<\/p>\n

\"Chris<\/p>\n

Chris Kuper stands on the sideline at State Farm Stadium during playoff action on Jan 13, 2025, as Minnesota faced the Rams in the NFC wild card round. The moment captures Kuper tracking offensive line adjustments, protection calls, and in-game communication amid postseason pressure and elevated tempo and overall execution. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

So, O\u2019Connell did not renew Kuper\u2019s contract, and he remains a coaching free agent.<\/p>\n

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Assistant offensive line coach Keith Carter accepted a promotion to Kuper\u2019s spot last month.<\/p>\n

Mike Pettine (assistant head coach)<\/p>\n

New Job: N\/A<\/p>\n

Pettine retired a few weeks ago and claimed he may return to the NFL in time. He later revealed in an interview with a Cleveland Browns-themed podcast that he and the aforementioned Flores didn\u2019t see eye to eye, which is probably why Pettine exited stage left.<\/p>\n

O\u2019Connell used Pettine on the offensive side of the coaching staff in 2025 because Pettine couldn\u2019t deal with Flores, or so he implied on the podcast.<\/p>\n

\"Mike<\/p>\n

Mike Pettine speaks with defenders along the Vikings\u2019 bench at Ford Field during first-half action on Jan 5, 2025, as Minnesota met Detroit. The scene highlights Pettine\u2019s in-game leadership, offering schematic reminders and situational adjustments while the defense regrouped between series during a tense divisional matchup under playoff implications. Mandatory Credit: David Reginek-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

Pettine originally joined the Vikings at the dawn of the O\u2019Connell era in 2022.<\/p>\n

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The Miami Dolphins\u2019 offensive coordinator for the last four seasons, Frank Smith<\/a>, has taken over for Pettine as assistant head coach, and many believe Smith will force the Vikings to run the football more often and more efficiently. They need it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"If you think the Minnesota Vikings are \u201crunning it back\u201d with their coaching staff, that just isn\u2019t the…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":730079,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2073],"tags":[1586,104230,6696,2886,100112,1508,85,7811,257,13146,93687,2792,146,2870,1490,7,3645,33701,41,6496,212,11172,1736,22372,7582,5394,6192,393,102828,251,491,105461,7866,86618,1158,233,259,2529,6,1482,57,6736,424,8316,1170,234,111,1825],"class_list":["post-730078","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-minnesota-vikings","tag-aaron-rodgers","tag-brian-angelichio","tag-brian-flores","tag-brian-schottenheimer","tag-chris-kuper","tag-christian-darrisaw","tag-cleveland","tag-coordinator","tag-dallas-cowboys","tag-daron-payne","tag-daronte-jones","tag-defensive-coordinator","tag-detroit","tag-dk-metcalf","tag-donovan-jackson","tag-football","tag-frankie-luvu","tag-gerald-alexander","tag-green-bay","tag-head-coach","tag-jacksonville","tag-javon-kinlaw","tag-jaylen-warren","tag-jeremy-reaves","tag-joey-porter-jr","tag-kenny-clark","tag-kevin-oconnell","tag-las-vegas-raiders","tag-marcus-dixon","tag-miami-dolphins","tag-micah-parsons","tag-michael-hutchings","tag-mike-mccarthy","tag-mike-pettine","tag-mike-sainristil","tag-minnesota","tag-minnesota-vikings","tag-minnesotavikings","tag-nfl","tag-offensive-line","tag-pittsburgh-steelers","tag-quinnen-williams","tag-rams","tag-ryan-kelly","tag-trey-amos","tag-vikings","tag-washington-commanders","tag-will-fries"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"","error":"Validation failed: Text character limit of 500 exceeded"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/730078","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=730078"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/730078\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/730079"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=730078"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=730078"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=730078"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}