Minnesota Vikings 2025 Profile
Coaching Staff
Head Coach: Kevin O’Connell
Offensive Coordinator: Wes Phillips
Defensive Coordinator: Brian Flores
Special Teams Coordinator: Matt Daniels
2024 Summary (W-L Record: 14-3)
Two games…that’s all it took to turn a 14-2 start into a completely inconsequential season.
The Vikings were tremendous for almost all of 2024. But they couldn’t win the game that mattered most, a head-to-head battle with the 14-2 Lions for the division title and the #1 seed in the NFC. That dropped them to the #5 seed and sent them on the road against the L.A. Rams, who dismantled them with ease in the Wild Card round.
The Vikings were one of the best teams in the NFL during the regular season primarily because they had a distinct scheme advantage on both sides of the ball.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell solidified his status as quarterback whisperer, turning Sam Darnold into an MVP candidate and an eventual big fish in free agency.
Brian Flores’ defense presented problems for just about every opponent, enabling his players to collectively punch above their weight class. They generated impact play after impact play, finishing the year 1st in takeaways, 4th in sacks, and 5th in points allowed.
You can read more about his scheme (with examples going back to 2020) here:
Brian Flores' Pressure Schemes
Vikings Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores’ calling card is his aggressive 6-up and 7-up blitz schemes. This is where he loads the line of scrimmage with 6 or 7 potential pass rushers (generally one more than the offense can protect), and then attacks in an assortment of ways.
Key Additions
RB Jordan Mason
WR Tai Felton (3rd Rd, 102nd Overall)
TE Nick Vannett
LG Donovan Jackson (1st Rd, 24th Overall)
C Ryan Kelly
RG Will Fries
RT Justin Skule
DL Jonathan Allen
DL Javon Hargrave
DL Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins (5th Rd, 139th Overall)
LB Eric Wilson
CB Isaiah Rodgers
CB Jeff Okudah
Key Losses
QB Sam Darnold
RB Cam Akers
TE Johnny Mundt
C Garrett Bradbury
RG Ed Ingram
LT Cam Robinson
RG Dalton Risner
DL Harrison Phillips
DL Jonathan Bullard
DL Jerry Tillery
DL Jihad Ward
EDGE Patrick Jones
LB Kam Grugier-Hill
CB Stephon Gilmore
CB Shaquill Griffin
S Cam Bynum
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Did They Address Their Holes?
Ultimately, scheme can only get you so far. Eventually, talent and the players on the field have to be able to win 1-on-1 matchups and make plays.
Sometimes it’s not about the X’s and O’s. It’s about the Jimmy’s and the Joe’s.
It’s not that the Vikings didn’t have any talent last year. They had a lot, in fact. But they clearly felt the need to make major changes in some key areas this offseason. So they turned over a lot of the roster and upgraded several areas, particularly in the trenches.