The Vikings’ biggest offseason question a year ago, by far, was what they were going to do at quarterback.
By failing to adequately answer that question throughout the course of 2025, quarterback is once again their biggest offseason question now.
But another question is a close second this year: What will the Vikings’ defensive coaching staff look like in 2026?
How they handled (or didn’t fully handle) last year’s quarterback question leads us to this conclusion: The Vikings better have a well-considered Plan B and, perhaps even more importantly given recent developments, a Plan C at defensive coordinator.
I talked about specific concerns on Tuesday’s Daily Delivery podcast.
Here are some recent developments to consider at the start of today’s 10 things to know:
- Defensive coordinator Brian Flores, who engineered a turnaround after arriving in 2023 and has overseen an elite unit the past two years, is considered a strong candidate for the Steelers’ head coach vacancy. He will reportedly have an in-person interview in Pittsburgh to replace Mike Tomlin, who stepped down after 19 seasons. Tomlin was also previously the Vikings’ defensive coordinator.
- Even if Flores doesn’t get that job or another head coaching gig, he is a free agent and could still depart to be a coordinator for another team. Washington is an option. Green Bay suddenly has a defensive coordinator opening (more on that in a minute). If Flores wants to leave Minnesota for any reason, he would be coveted at multiple places.
- Vikings assistant Daronte Jones, who coaches defensive backs and coordinates the defensive passing game, is thought to be a strong in-house candidate to replace Flores if he leaves.
- But four teams other than the Vikings are known to be interested in speaking to Jones about their defensive coordinator vacancies. The latest to emerge: Green Bay, where former coordinator Jeff Hafley is leaving to become the Dolphins’ next head coach.
- Reports and interviews are still not jobs. It’s entirely possible that Flores stays in Minnesota. It’s also entirely possible that even if Flores leaves, the Vikings are able to promote Jones.
- But the Vikings would be wise to remember last year and how their QB situation played out. Plan A, once they decided Sam Darnold was too expensive and wasn’t the right fit if they wanted a long look at J.J. McCarthy, was to sign Daniel Jones to a one-year bridge deal similar to what Darnold inked in 2024. But Jones ended up choosing the Colts. Plan B was a scramble that led them to Sam Howell. Plan C was the hasty signing of Carson Wentz to be the backup. The Vikings probably would have made the playoffs in 2025 if Plan A had worked out. They probably would have made the playoffs with a better Plan B. They might have made the playoffs with a better-considered Plan C. They need to cover all those bases with this coordinator situation.
- Bobby Nightengale from the Star Tribune was my guest on Tuesday’s podcast, and we touched on a number of Twins offseason topics.
- Also on Tuesday’s podcast, I talked extensively about Indiana’s amazing 16-0 season and Monday’s thrilling 27-21 win over Miami in the CFP championship game. If the Hoosiers, by many measures one of the worst programs in college football history, can turn things around and win a national title, doesn’t that have to give the Gophers and countless other teams some hope?
- I’ll talk even more about that and get into some Gophers offseason specifics on Wednesday’s show with Randy Johnson.
- A Marcus Foligno hat trick will cure a lot of things for the Wild.
