Coaching Staff
Head Coach: Kevin O’Connell
Offensive Coordinator: Wes Phillips
Defensive Coordinator: Brian Flores
Special Teams Coordinator: Matt Daniels
2025 Summary (W-L Record: 9-8)
The Vikings made a calculated decision to move on from Sam Darnold after the 2024 season in favor of J.J. McCarthy. It backfired, to say the least.
Darnold went on to win the Super Bowl with the Seahawks. Minnesota’s offense, on the other hand, took a huge step back. The result was a 9-8 season one year after finishing 14-3, and a hole at the most important position.
The biggest issue with J.J. McCarthy’s young NFL career has been health. He missed his entire rookie season due to a torn meniscus suffered during a preseason game.
I think some people underestimate how big of a deal that injury was. Even if McCarthy wasn’t going to play much during his rookie season, he would have at least been on the practice field, honing his mechanics, improving his timing, applying what he saw in the film room, and starting to get used to life as an NFL quarterback.
Instead he was rehabbing. And last offseason, I’m sure he was spending a disproportionate amount of time getting back to 100% instead of becoming a better quarterback. That’s a huge deal for any player but even more so for a rookie.
It showed when McCarthy was on the field last season. He was inaccurate. Slow to process. Poor in his decision-making. And he looked overwhelmed at times.
Not to mention, he was in and out of the lineup due to injuries.
The point here isn’t to make excuses for McCarthy. Instead, it’s to put things in perspective. He is still developing, but that process has been hindered by the fact that he’s had multiple years of dealing with injuries to start his career. He is a work in progress. His career isn’t over.
But the Vikings can’t wait around any longer. Which is why they took a flier on Kyler Murray this offseason.
On the other side of the ball, Brian Flores did his thing once again last season. He continued using a variety of those complex 6 and 7-up fronts and pressure schemes (1st in the NFL in blitz frequency). He also utilized a unique combination of cover-2 (most in the NFL) and cover-0 (6th in the NFL according to Cody Alexander of MatchQuarters).
The Vikings finished with the 7th-best defense in points allowed and 3rd-best in total yards, keeping them in most games.
Key Additions
QB Kyler Murray
FB Max Bredeson (5th Rd, 159th Overall)
WR Jauan Jennings
OT Ryan Van Demark
OT Caleb Tiernan (3rd Rd, 97th Overall)
DL Caleb Banks (1st Rd, 18th Overall)
DL Domonique Orange (3rd Rd, 82nd Overall)
DL Isaiahh Loudermilk
DL Eric Johnson
LB Jake Golday (2nd Rd, 51st Overall)
CB James Pierre
CB Charles Demmings (5th Rd, 163rd Overall)
S Jakobe Thomas (3rd Rd, 98th Overall)
Key Losses
FB C.J. Ham
WR Jalen Nailor
LT Justin Skule
C Ryan Kelly
DL Jonathan Allen
DL Javon Hargrave
EDGE Jonathan Greenard
CB Fabian Moreau
S Harrison Smith (as of right now)
Biggest Questions Entering 2026
Kyler Murray vs. J.J. McCarthy - Who will be the guy?
It would be shocking to see any other outcome than the Vikings starting Kyler Murray this season.
Minnesota was able to bring him in for just $1.3 million (the veteran minimum) since the Cardinals are on the hook for another $35+ million. So on the one hand, they can have a true QB competition if they want. Due to the lack of financial risk, if Murray doesn’t play a down this season or if he doesn’t work out, it’s no big deal.
And if J.J. McCarthy is able to win the job, it will likely be the result of him having shown substantial improvement, which would obviously be a huge plus for the franchise.
But let’s be honest, it seems like this is Murray’s job to lose.