Vikings Coaching Staff Takes Another Hit
The Vikings are losing yet another member of Kevin O’Connell’s original staff, as offseason turnover continues to reshape Minnesota’s coaching structure.
The coaching cycle has been pretty eventful for the Minnesota Vikings, who at least managed to keep defensive coordinator Brian Flores around for a fourth season. Several others, however, have earned promotions.
Add assistant wide receivers coach Tony Sorrentino to the list, who is headed to the Arizona Cardinals to coach their receivers, now as the top coach in that room.
The Cardinals have swapped their coaching staff this year after firing head coach Jonathan Gannon. To replace him, Arizona hired Rams OC Mike LaFleur, brother of Minnesota’s foe Matt, who’s leading the Packers.
ESPN’s Peter Schrager reported on social media, “The Arizona Cardinals are hiring Minnesota Vikings Assistant WRs coach Tony Sorrentino as their WRs coach. Sorrentino has been in Minnesota for 4 years, working with WRs Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, and now will be with Marvin Harrison Jr. and Michael Wilson.”
Like many other departed coaches this offseason, Sorrentino was part of Kevin O’Connell’s first staff in 2022. Wide receivers coach Keenan McCardell remains on the staff. Still, continuity around Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison takes another hit.
In Arizona, Sorrentino will inherit a talented group that includes the 4th overall pick from 2024, Marvin Harrison Jr. and 2025 breakout receiver Michael Wilson. It remains to be seen who’s throwing them the ball, however. Franchise quarterback Kyler Murray could be on his way out. Backup Jacoby Brissett is a bridge quarterback, but the Draft doesn’t feature that many options this year.
For Sorrentino, it’s his first chance in the first row of wide receiver coaching in the NFL. He was the assistant WR coach for the Jaguars from 2013 to 2015, then bounced around in the college ranks, including three seasons as the WR coach at Northern Illinois.
7 Departed Vikings Coaches
In addition to Sorrentino, six other coaches have left the organization over the last few weeks.
That group is led by Daronte Jones, the Washington Commanders’ new defensive coordinator. He was the DB coach and defensive pass game coordinator in the Twin Cities under Flores. Generally viewed as a hot candidate to take over for Flores in case of his exit, he lands the same gig elsewhere. His assistant, Michael Hutchings, was hired as Cal’s new defensive coordinator.
The third and final defensive coach to leave is Marcus Dixon, previously the defensive line coach. Dixon is headed to Dallas to coach a talented group around Quinnen Williams. Jones and Hutchings landed promotions, Dixon’s contract expired and he was hired in the same position elsewhere.
On the offensive side of the ball, the Vikings seemingly run it back with OC Wes Phillips and QB coach Josh McCown.
Offensive line coach Chris Kuper was not retained for a 5th season, but he was hired for the same job in Philadelphia. Brian Angelichio, tight ends coach, will support Mike McCarthy as the offensive coordinator in Pittsburgh.
And finally, assistant head coach Mike Pettine announced his retirement. He was O’Connell’s assistant for four seasons. Recently, some comments directed at Brian Flores raised eyebrows.
In the meantime, the Vikings have replaced most of them, filling the vacancies with in-house talent and external help.
If anything, the offensive shakeup might be overdue. The Vikings didn’t lose a top-five attack; they lost pieces from a unit that ranked near the bottom in key moments. Now the focus shifts to whether the new mix of voices can finally stabilize the struggling side of the ball.