Vikings coaching combo ranks in top 5 of the NFL
· Yahoo Sports
The Minnesota Vikings enjoy having a loaded coaching staff built by head coach Kevin O'Connell. Their coordinators especially have set themselves up for sustained success on both sides of the ball, and perhaps a head coaching chance down the road.
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Sports Illustrated's Gilberto Manzano ranked the best coordinator combos in the NFL, but he made sure to let head coaches who call plays on either side to affect things. He explains his process, writing, "There are other strong coordinator tandems in the league, so I decided to rank the best offensive and defensive coordinator duos for 2026. And we didn’t count the head coaches who call plays. They already get enough attention as it is."
With the stage set, he explained that the Vikings coaching duo of defensive coordinator Brian Flores and offensive coordinator Wes Phillips earned the 5th spot in his rankings.
He explains the placement, writing, "Flores’s aggressive approach and creative ways of generating pressure have been imitated by several coaches throughout the league. What’s more impressive is that Flores, who joined the Vikings in 2023, has done this without having much star power on defense and on a team that has prioritized the offense. . .Phillips and coach Kevin O’Connell need a bounce-back season, but there’s no question that they’ve been innovative since overseeing the Vikings’ operation. . .Perhaps Phillips and O’Connell will get better results with Kyler Murray or guide McCarthy in the right direction in ’26."
Brian Flores has really been a magician for the team as they have been able to establish themselves among the best in the NFL on defense. Meanwhile, Phillips has found his perfect place alongside Kevin O'Connell in developing the team's offense. These two could easily be head coaches somewhere in 2027, but for now, the Vikings will enjoy their time with him.
This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: Vikings coaching combo ranks in top 5 of the NFL