Minnesota Vikings Depth Chart
- NFC North
- Stadium
- U.S. Bank Stadium
- Head Coach
- Kevin O'Connell
- Offensive Coordinator
- Wes Phillips
- Defensive Coordinator
- Brian Flores
- Special Teams Coach
- Matt Daniels
- Defensive Scheme
- 3-4
ESPN's Field Yates isn't expecting the Minnesota Vikings to re-sign impending free-agent defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson this offseason. Tomlinson has been solid for Minnesota and should command a nice salary on the open market as a gifted pass-rusher and big-bodied run-stopper. But the Vikings will be more motivated to pay wide receiver Justin Jefferson to a deal that will potentially be the richest ever for a wideout. The 28-year-old Tomlinson had 42 tackles (20 solo), 2.5 sacks and a fumble recovery in 13 regular season games for the Vikings in 2022 while being limited to a career-low in defensive snaps due to a calf injury that caused him to miss four games. Minnesota is also $24.5 million over the salary cap as things currently stand.
Pittsburgh Steelers assistant head coach/linebackers coach Brian Flores accepted the defensive coordinator position with the Minnesota Vikings on Monday, according to a source. Flores has plenty of experience in the NFL coaching defense and was also the Miami Dolphins' head coach for three years from 2019-21. Before his stint in Miami, Flores spent 15 years working under New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick. Last offseason, Flores filed a lawsuit against the Dolphins, Denver Broncos and New York Giants for discriminatory hiring and firing practices. The Vikings defense hasn't ranked better than 24th in points allowed or 27th in yards allowed in any of the last three seasons, so he'll have his work cut out for him.
The Minnesota Vikings interviewed Pittsburgh Steelers senior defensive assistant/linebackers coach Brian Flores for their defensive coordinator opening on Thursday. Flores is still in the running for the head-coaching position with the Arizona Cardinals, but if he doesn't get that job, the Vikings could hire him to run their defense in 2023. Minnesota is looking to replace Ed Donatell after firing him following their early playoff exit. Despite making the playoffs, the Vikings D was pretty bad, ranking 28th in points allowed (25.1) and 31st in yards allowed (388.7) per game. In addition to Flores' head-coaching interview in Arizona, he interviewed for defensive coordinator positions in Cleveland and Atlanta.
The Minnesota Vikings announced on Wednesday that they completed an interview with Mike Pettine for the team's open defensive coordinator position. Pettine is currently the assistant head coach for the Vikings but previously served as defensive coordinator for the New York Jets, Buffalo Bills, and Green Bay Packers. Minnesota has also interviewed Seattle Seahawks associate head coach Sean Desai and New Orleans Saints co-defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen for the job since firing Ed Donatell last week. Pittsburgh Steelers senior defensive assistant and linebackers coach Brian Flores is set to interview with the team on Thursday.
The Minnesota Vikings interviewed New Orleans Saints co-defensive coordinator and defensive line coach Ryan Nielsen for their vacant defensive coordinator job on Monday. The Vikings are searching for a new defensive coordinator this offseason after firing Ed Donatell last week. Nielsen became the D-line coach for the Saints in 2017 and has been with the organization ever since. The Vikings have also requested to interview Pittsburgh Steelers linebackers coach Brian Flores for the opening and are expected to interview more candidates in the coming days. Nielsen is also expected to interview with the Atlanta Falcons for the same position. Despite winning the NFC North in 2022, Minnesota's defense allowed the second-most total yards per game (388.7), the second-most passing yards per game (265.6) and the third-most points per game (25.1).
