Vikings Coach and J.J. McCarthy’s Mentor Lands a Job Interview
The Minnesota Vikings might be busy replacing multiple members of their coaching staff in the upcoming weeks and months. Kevin O’Connell was hired in the 2022 offseason to be Minnesota’s head coach, and he has assembled an intriguing coaching staff ever since. He can ask his former boss, Sean McVay: the top head coaches are always in danger of having their assistants and coordinators poached.
Vikings Coach and J.J. McCarthy’s Mentor Lands a Job Interview
Other franchises hope the wingman has learned from the head coach and can replicate their mentor’s success.
Brian Flores, Minnesota’s defensive coordinator, has landed three job interviews for head coaching gigs: Jets, Jaguars, and Bears. Quarterbacks coach Josh McCown will also interview for the top job with the Jets.
The next man in line, assistant quarterbacks coach Grant Udinski, has emerged as a candidate for the offensive coordinator position with the Seattle Seahawks.
One day after the season-ending defeat against McVay’s Rams, Mike Garafolo reported Seattle’s interest:
After playing defensive end at Towson from 2016 to 2018, Udinski spent the 2019 season as a graduate assistant with Baylor, and then the Panthers hired him as an assistant coach.
When O’Connell came to Minnesota in 2022, he hired Udinski as the assistant to the head coach. He was promoted in 2023, becoming assistant QB coach. While the entire coaching staff tried to get Jaren Hall ready for the game, he was asked to prepare Josh Dobbs in the short time after his arrival for the following weekend against the Falcons. Udinski is, to some extent, responsible for Dobbs-mania.
This offseason, the Vikings appointed former NFL signal-caller Josh McCown as their QB coach. Udinski kept his assistant QB coach title and was promoted to assistant offensive coordinator.
The Star Tribune’s Ben Goessling summarized his multiple jobs: “His unofficial roles include: mentor to McCarthy; post-practice pass rusher or receiver for Sam Darnold; advance scout and practice lieutenant for Phillips; complement to QB coach Josh McCown; ‘Crazy Grant’ to O’Connell’s kids; confidant, protégé and occasional comedic target for O’Connell.”
Perhaps the most important aspect is “mentor to McCarthy,” losing what seems like McCarthy’s primary coach entering his sophomore season surely doesn’t help.
Goessling wrote about their relationship:
“They sit together in meetings, both furiously typing notes into Google spreadsheets. Now that McCarthy can attend practices again following knee surgery, Udinski drills him on reciting play calls like he’s the starter.
“I feel like that’s where true intelligence, true wisdom lies: making complex concepts simple,” McCarthy said. “You wouldn’t know he’s one of the smartest in the room. That’s something I really appreciate about him.”
O’Connell once said about the up-and-coming coach, “He’s got such an unbelievable understanding, from his background on offense and defense, and his sheer football stamina is something I really admire. I joke with him all the time, ‘Nobody loves football like you, man.’ His mind never really wanders from it.”
At the end of the day, it is logical to lose assistant coaches, especially on the offensive side, for as long as O’Connell is regarded this highly in the NFL.
However, the 21-year-old McCarthy would benefit from an extended stint with Udinski in the Twin Cities. Perhaps offering him the full-time QB coach job makes sense, with McCown also eyeing a promotion elsewhere.
Janik Eckardt is a football fan who likes numbers and stats. The Vikings became his favorite team despite their quarterback at the time, Christian Ponder. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia, loves watching sitcoms, and prefers Classic rock over other genres. Follow him on Twitter if you like the Vikings: @JanikEckardt