11 DC Candidates the Vikings Could Consider
Once again in the Vikings universe, all eyes are on the defensive coordinator Brian Flores, who is expected to generate some head coaching interest. If he snags a promotion or leaves laterally — his contract is set to expire after all — the club needs a new defensive coordinator. This list highlights realistic options with either play-calling experience or organizational ties.
1. Todd Bowles
There has not been a decision on Todd Bowles’ future as the head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but after losing the division to the 8-9 Carolina Panthers, his bosses can’t be too pleased.
If Bowles is shown the door, he could emerge as a DC option for several franchises. The experienced play-caller is another aggressive defensive mind that deploys additional pass-rushers at an above-average rate.
2. Jonathan Gannon
Another head coach from the 2025 season, Jonathan Gannon, was fired the day after the regular season concluded. Gannon was the head coach of the Cardinals for three seasons, with limited success. In all fairness to him, the lack of talent he had to work with was apparent.
Either way, Gannon is a proven defensive coordinator, as he helped the Eagles reach the Super Bowl in 2022, and he has ties to the Vikings, having served as the assistant DB coach under Mike Zimmer from 2014-2017.
3. Patrick Graham
Patrick Graham doesn’t have employment with the Vikings on his resume, but he interviewed for the HC vacancy in 2022 when he was still a relatively unknown coach. Kevin O’Connell got the nod and Graham was hired as Las Vegas’ DC.
Fascinating but true: Graham has survived the Raiders’ divorces from Josh McDaniels and Antonio Pierce. He was still part of Pete Carroll’s staff. As Carroll was fired on Monday, his future is now undecided after spending four years in that position.
4. Eric Henderson
Unlike most other names on the list, Eric Henderson hasn’t gathered experience as the defensive coordinator in the NFL. However, he has one thing most don’t have: A history with Kevin O’Connell. Henderson was on the Rams’ staff from 2019 to 2023. O’Connell was there in 2020 and 2021, helping the Rams capture the Super Bowl.
Since 2024, Henderson has been the co-DC, DL coach, and run game coordinator at USC.
5. Daronte Jones
If Flores is out, Daronte Jones could be the in-house solution. He has coached under Flores for a couple of seasons and might have picked up his unique scheme. If the Vikings want to continue to run his system, defensive pass game coordinator Jones is the logical candidate.
He was the DC of LSU in 2021, but he was not retained for a second year when Ed Orgeron was replaced by Brian Kelly. Jones was part of Zimmer’s staff in 2020, Ed Donatell’s staff in 2022, and Flores’ staff since 2023. The Vikings seemingly like him and that’s a good starting point.
6. Don “Wink” Martindale
Wink Martindale served as the DC at the University of Michigan but was let go as part of the coaching turnover this offseason. Flores excluded, Martindale is arguably the most blitz-happy coordinator that has worked in the NFL in recent years.
Martindale had NFL stints as the DC with the Ravens from 2018 to 2021 and the Giants in 2022 and 2023. That Giants team in 2022, of course, ended Minnesota’s season. He and the Giants reportedly parted ways in mutual understanding.
7. Jerod Mayo
Jerod Mayo was drafted by the New England Patriots in 2008. Guess who was also part of that draft class? You guessed it, Kevin O’Connell. Unlike the former QB, linebacker Mayo had a long career with the Patriots. A few years after his playing career had ended, Mayo was hired by Bill Belichick as the linebackers coach. He held that role from 2019 to 2023.
Mayo was the “head coach in waiting” under Belichick, and when the Patriots made the decision to swap the head coach, Mayo was indeed inserted into that role. He survived one season and was axed in favor of Mike Vrabel. After a year on the couch, he could be intrigued by reuniting with his former teammate on the coaching staff. A problem could be that he has never called plays before. Mayo delegated those duties to his DC in his lone season in charge.
8. Raheem Morris
Raheem Morris is another former pal of Kevin O’Connell. He was the defensive coordinator when the Rams won the Super Bowl with O’Connell serving as the OC. Morris also interviewed for the HC opening in the Twin Cities in 2022.
The defensive mind was the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons over the last two seasons, but was let go. He could be in the mix for other head coach openings.
9. Ryan Nielsen
Speaking of past interviews with the Vikings, after the Vikings fired Donatell in 2023, Ryan Nielsen was one of the guys they interviewed. Ultimately, Flores took over.
Nielsen was the co-defensive coordinator of the Saints in 2022, the DC of the Falcons in 2023, and the DC of the Jaguars in 2024. The Falcons and Jaguars both changed head coaches, and he was not retained in the process. He’s currently a senior defensive assistant for the Bills.
The Vikings considered him once; it wouldn’t be surprising to see him enter the race once again, now that he has more experience.
10. Jim Schwartz
Jim Schwartz has plenty of experience, too. Outside of short breaks in 2015, 2021, and 2022, Schwartz has either been a defensive coordinator or a head coach in the NFL since 2001. He was DC of the Titans (2001-2008), the Bills (2014), the Eagles (2016-2020), and the Browns (since 2023). In addition, he served as the Lions’ head coach from 2009 to 2013.
His three defensive teams with the Browns were outstanding. Kevin Stefanski was fired on Monday and his defensive wingman has an uncertain future.
11. Jeff Ulbrich
Former NFL player Jeff Ulbrich has been a coach for one and a half decades. He was the New York Jets’ defensive coordinator from 2021 to 2024, leading one of the league’s elite units under head coach Robert Saleh. When Saleh was fired after the London game against the Vikings, Ulbrich took over as the interim HC for the remainder of the season.
In 2025, Ulbrich was the defensive coordinator under Raheem Morris in Atlanta.