Report: Extensions Incoming for Minnesota Vikings Coaches
Day two of Minnesota Vikings minicamp is in the books, meaning the first annual mandatory offseason workouts of the offseason are nearly complete as well. The team will hold their final minicamp workout on Thursday, before taking a couple weeks off.
The final OTA practices of the offseason are scheduled for June 16-18. Then, most of the team will be off for a month, before they reconvene on July 21 for the start of training camp. What will we do with that time off?
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Well while we twiddle our thumbs, while we wait for football to return, it sounds like the Minnesota Vikings front office will be busy inking assistant coaches to contract extensions.
Extensions coming for Minnesota Vikings coaches, specifically Brian Flores and Wes Phillips
According to Ben Goessling (Star Tribune) on a recent episode of the Access Vikings podcast, defensive coordinator Brian Flores and offensive coordinator Wes Phillips are both going into contract years and could be on the verge of extensions. In fact, he says to watch out for something on Phillips in the 'not-too-distant future'.
'Brian Flores, Wes Phillips entering contract years. My understanding is there's talks [happening] with a couple of those coaches. It sounds like we may hear something in the not-too-distant future on the Wes Phillips front. But yeah, they have some business to do with the coaching staff.'
Ben Goessling – Access Vikings Podcast
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Wes Phillips came over with Kevin O'Connell, from the Los Angeles Rams. Unlike some of the other young, up-and-coming coaches in the league who have and still do coach Minnesota Vikings quarterbacks, Wes is a veteran coaching voice who KOC doesn't have to worry as much about leaving for his next big opportunity.
Outside of being arrested, pleading guilty to and getting suspended for a DWI back in December of 2023, Wes Phillips has been there by Kevin O'Connell's side since the beginning of his head coaching tenure… and it sounds like that will continue for the foreseeable future.
Related: Multiple Insiders Still See Kirk Cousins Landing Back in Minnesota
Prior to his arrival in Los Angeles in 2019, Phillips worked with Sean McVay in Washington from 2014-2018. Before that, he was with his dad Wade Phillips in Dallas from 2007-2013), first as an quality control coordinator, then assistant OL coach, before eventually becoming the Cowboys' tight ends coach for the 2013 season.
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Prior to joining his father's NFL staff, Wes spent time as a college quarterbacks coach at West Texas A&M (2004-2005) and Baylor (2006).
Flores extension incoming too…?
Credit: Photo courtesy of the Minnesota Vikings
Obviously, Goessling doesn't do much to hide the fact that Kwesi is currently working out contracts with multiple coaches. He doesn't specifically reference something being close between defensive coordinator Brian Flores and the Minnesota Vikings, but he was the only other coach outside of Wes Phillips, who was mentioned by name.
More so than Phillips on offense, the Minnesota Vikings defense is 100% reliant on its defensive coordinator. Nobody runs a defense like Brian Flores and there is a reason for that. In the two seasons since taking over in place of one-and-done failure Ed Donatell, the Vikings defense has flourished under Flores.
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Related: Justin Jefferson Reveals Why He Attended Minnesota Vikings OTAs
In 2022, they ranked 28th out of 32 NFL teams in points allowed (427) and 31st in yards allowed (6,608). In year two under Flores (2024), the MN Vikings defense ranked 5th in points allowed (332) and 16th in yards allowed (5,702).
The only reason why Brian Flores is not a head coach is because of the mistakes he made with Tua Tagovailoa in Miami, combined with the ongoing lawsuit he has against multiple teams and the league, itself. Until all of those things are resolved, Kevin O'Connell and the Minnesota Vikings will be happy to have him as their DC.
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