Vikings move on from offensive line coach Chris Kuper after tumultuous season for position group

The Vikings are looking for a new offensive line coach after not renewing Chris Kuper’s contract following its expiration at the end of the season.

The Vikings offensive line, into which significant money was invested during 2025 free agency, played with more than 20 combinations as it was racked by injury this season, often leaving first-time starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy playing behind a hodge-podge grouping.

Only right guard Will Fries appeared in all 17 games, and the fifth-year player’s performance indicated he still has room to grow. Fries was one of last offseason’s additions, signing a five-year deal worth up to $88 million after leaving the Colts.

Center Ryan Kelly, the Vikings’ other big free-agent addition among the group last year, ended the season on injured reserve. Another player signed from Indianapolis, Kelly suffered two concussions and spent five weeks on IR midseason only to return and be evaluated for a third in the game against the Giants.

Left tackle Christian Darrisaw faced ups and downs in his return from multiple ligament tears in his knee in October 2024. He did not make his return to game action until Week 3 and was in and out throughout the season; the Vikings ended his season early with a move to IR in Week 16.

Rookie left guard Donovan Jackson and veteran right tackle Brian O’Neill also dealt with smaller injuries throughout the season that caused them to miss time.

Collectively, Vikings quarterbacks were sacked 60 times this season, tied for second-most in the league. The O-line had an 11% sack rate, also second-worst in the league, per Next Gen Stats.

The 43-year-old Kuper, a former University of North Dakota athlete who had been with the Vikings since coach Kevin O’Connell’s first season in 2022, is the only announced change to the coaching staff thus far since finishing the season 9-8 and out of the playoffs.

It was previously announced that safeties coach Michael Hutchings would depart to become defensive coordinator at the University of California.

Defensive coordinator Brian Flores has interviewed for the Ravens head coaching job and is expected to interview for the same role with the Steelers. He has also attracted interest from the Commanders for their defensive coordinator role as he and the Vikings have not yet come to an agreement on a fresh contract for him in Minnesota.