Vikings Hire Experienced Coach
The Minnesota Vikings started their 2025 offseason with the fear of losing defensive coordinator Brian Flores to head coaching opportunities. He stayed, and so did defensive backs coach Daronte Jones and QB coach Josh McCown. Only Grant Udinski departed. The young assistant QB coach and assistant OC signed with the Jaguars to become their offensive coordinator.
Vikings Hire Experienced Coach
On Tuesday, the Vikings announced the hire of Keith Carter as assistant offensive line coach: “The Vikings have hired Keith Carter as the team’s assistant offensive line coach. Carter spent the 2023 and 2024 seasons as the Jets offensive line coach and run-game coordinator.”
Carter, 42, started his coaching career in college and made his first steps in the NFL with the Seahawks in 2012 as the offensive quality control coach. After a year at San Jose State (2014) as the offensive line coach, he was hired as the assistant line coach by the Atlanta Falcons and became the RB coach in 2017. The Titans appointed him as their OL coach in 2018, and he stayed in that role until 2022.
In the last two seasons, Carter was the OL coach and run game coordinator of the New York Jets.
ESPN’s Kevin Seifert reported, “Kevin O’Connell on the Vikings’ new assistant OL coach: ‘You’ll find some things about him in regards to being tough on his players. But I think in the No. 2 role, he’s gonna be really good for us.’ Indeed, Carter’s relationship with players was an ongoing storyline in New York.”
The Athletic’s Alec Lewis opined, “The Vikings are hiring Keith Carter as assistant OL coach. Was OL coach and run game coordinator with Jets, and OL coach with Titans before that. Great knowledge of run game. Major part of shifting focus this offseason.”
Chris Kuper has been Minnesota’s offensive line coach since Kevin O’Connell’s arrival in 2022. He helped Brian O’Neill continue to play at a high level while Christian Darrisaw made a massive step in their first offseason together.
The interior of the offensive line has been a problem for years. However, center Garrett Bradbury has been at his best since Kuper took over and the coach also helped Ezra Cleveland and Blake Brandel grow. Ed Ingram, meanwhile, has been a disappointment.
Having an extra voice in the room can help develop players better. It’s also notable that Carter has worked as a run game coordinator, and Minnesota’s rushing attack hasn’t been particularly good under O’Connell.
The running back room and the interior offensive line could undergo some significant changes in the next two months.
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