All Things 2026 Minnesota Vikings Off-Season Thread

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upnorthkid said:
I think the guy that just won the Super Bowl may have shown that things are tilting a bit more again. Ditto on Vrabel and Ryans. The NFL is cyclical.

Think the OC as HC idea got put en vogue by McVay and Shanahan showing success as young guys who could do it, but they both show strong understanding of both sides of the ball. It can't be just one or you're going to flame out over and over again even if your teams have talent.

It's part of why I don't think Flores is a HC guy to me. Some guys are super good coordinators but just lose it a bit when they become HCs. Kind of seems that way to me for him based on what has been said about him. Now he may have grown and changed, but do you want to be the one taking that swing?
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True, a Defensive minded HC can succeed if he able to still identify the OC that can find & develop the talent to win. Such a coach has to do it repeatedly, because once they have good season that OC moves on to be a HC for another team.

Also needs to have a GM that can oversee to ensure both Off & Def are happy as well as productive with adequate resources.

Tough business.
 

Ogie Ogilthorpe said:
I've said from the beginning that I think Flores is getting some seriously bad legal advice. I just don't know what the end game is here. The burden of proof here is going to awfully hard to achieve (depending on what court he gets in front of obviously), and the fact that the Dolphins had a minority GM running their team before and after Flores' tenure won't exactly help his argument.

I also think this possibly makes it more difficult for other minority candidates to get jobs. What team wants to deal with something like this if they don't have to? Lastly, as a business owner, I can't fathom any scenario on the planet where I would consider hiring someone who has a history of suing their former employer. The circumstances would have to be extreme to even remotely consider it.

Flores holds an incredibly elite position, one of only 32 DC's in the NFL and as Howie said, more than likely one of the highest paid DC's, and he doesn't have to deal with the bullshit of being a HC. I couldn't think of a better position to be in as one of the most respected DCs in all of football
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I agree with basically most of your post.

The fact that the SC denied the NFL appeal for arbitration, especially with the current composition of SC, that the suit has merit and deserves to be litigated now is interesting.

From the article regarding the lawsuit, claims against the Dolphins weren’t included in the ruling being referenced -

In 2023, a federal judge allowed some claims in Flores’ lawsuit to go to arbitration, while others — including those against the New York Giants, Denver Broncos and Houston Texans, all teams Flores interviewed with at some point — were to remain in court. In August 2025, the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan upheld that ruling, which also determined that “related claims” against the NFL could proceed in court.
 


Gopher_In_NYC said:
I agree with basically most of your post.

The fact that the SC denied the NFL appeal for arbitration, especially with the current composition of SC, that the suit has merit and deserves to be litigated now is interesting.

From the article regarding the lawsuit, claims against the Dolphins weren’t included in the ruling being referenced -

In 2023, a federal judge allowed some claims in Flores’ lawsuit to go to arbitration, while others — including those against the New York Giants, Denver Broncos and Houston Texans, all teams Flores interviewed with at some point — were to remain in court. In August 2025, the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan upheld that ruling, which also determined that “related claims” against the NFL could proceed in court.
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I wasn't sure about Miami's part of the latest suit that is still alive.

I guess my overall thought remains the same; I just don't know what the end game is. I doubt it's money, and as far as "winning" a lawsuit like that, I don't really know what you're winning. The NFL likely does more than most to ensure minority hiring in high level positions so what are you going to gain there

And it this DOES go to court, does Flores really want all of that baggage from Miami hauled up into the public eye? I just can't imagine that's a good look and I would think he would want to avoid that. Even if the current suit isn't directly related to what happened in Miami, if I'm on the other side of the table I'm absolutely bringing it up. There were plenty of reports out there about what kind of work atmosphere there was around Flores in the building in Miami; borderline hostile, horrible treatment of subordinate staff, people walking around the building on eggshells terrified of setting him off. He treated staff like shit, plain and simple.

I just don't know what this serves. And if it is specifically related to minority hiring and any discrimination in that regard, I would sure think they could come up with coaches that got it a lot worse than Flores.

Plenty of stories out there of elite level Coordinators who just may not be good HC's; Josh McDaniels, Zimmer, Flores, Steve Wilkes, et al.

I just don't get it. Even if he absolutely positively 100% got hosed and railroaded and shafted, personally, I would still be just moving on and happy that I have one of the most highly coveted jobs in the world, making more money than like 0.001% of the population. We should all be so disrespected.
 












The Vikings hiring a Seattle guy displays the vikes org still has their collective pants on the ground from the Darnold decision. Delicious.
 



Spaulding!No! said:
The Vikings hiring a Seattle guy displays the vikes org still has their collective pants on the ground from the Darnold decision. Delicious.
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I've always thought the biggest mistake they made with Darnold was when they initially signed him (before even drafting JJM).

They did not have the foresight of including a 2nd Year Team option for solid coin but not break the back dough ($20 Mil roughly) in the event that Darnold lit it up in 2024. Could have also included a buy out if he was not worth it.

Seems like a realistic scenario that all parties would have been agreeable to.
 
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Spaulding!No! said:
The Vikings hiring a Seattle guy displays the vikes org still has their collective pants on the ground from the Darnold decision. Delicious.
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Jordan Give Me Some Good Loving is the 4th best QB in a 4 team division and all for only only $51M; talk about gross incompetence and insecurity🫨🤯🥳🥸🤠🤗
 
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Ope3 said:
True, a Defensive minded HC can succeed if he able to still identify the OC that can find & develop the talent to win. Such a coach has to do it repeatedly, because once they have good season that OC moves on to be a HC for another team.

Also needs to have a GM that can oversee to ensure both Off & Def are happy as well as productive with adequate resources.

Tough business.
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Well .... yeah? You need both O and D to win.

If Flores became our next HC after KOC, then he would find an OC to run the offense, and hopefully a good one who can nurture a future superstar franchise QB.


I would think he (Flores) would lean on our new GM to help with this. Identifying a good candidate. Perhaps it would be some up-and-comer from Seattle or the NFC West.


Seems perfectly reasonable?


The negative reactions on here to Flores specifically being a HC seem weird to me. Maybe I'm discounting his Miami stint too heavily?
 

howeda7 said:
Both hit their receivers on deep routes, but Kyler's are beautiful layered balls and JJ's are lasers. Only has one speed.
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The exact same, same, same old s--t.

He does not have accuracy as soon as he takes something off the ball. He can only throw the ball hard, with accuracy.

There was a reason that "somehow" our receivers suddenly had so many dropped balls last year.

He's cooked. Get rid of him now
 

Ope3 said:
I've always thought the biggest mistake they made with Darnold was when they initially signed him (before even drafting JJM).

They did not have the foresight of including a 2nd Year Team option for solid coin but not break the back dough ($20 Mil roughly) in the event that Darnold lit it up in 2024. Could have also included a buy out if he was not worth it.

Seems like a realistic scenario that all parties would have been agreeable to.
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So ... what does that say about Murray's one year deal here ... ?
 

Chicago deserves to lose the Bears if they won't pay up.

And then 40 years from now, it will be a triumphant, ticker tape parade return of the Bears back to Chicago proper for a new $20B stadium.
 

GopherGrit said:
So ... what does that say about Murray's one year deal here ... ?
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Maybe he wouldn’t have signed here then, just as he was able to leverage the Vikings not being able to franchise tag him either for 2027.

Murray’s resume and that you only had to pay him the league minimum gave him all the leverage.

Resume

2X Pro Bowler
20K passing in the league
Has thrown 121 TDs vs. 60’picks

Danika had none of the above when we signed him.
 


Ope3 said:
True, a Defensive minded HC can succeed if he able to still identify the OC that can find & develop the talent to win. Such a coach has to do it repeatedly, because once they have good season that OC moves on to be a HC for another team.

Also needs to have a GM that can oversee to ensure both Off & Def are happy as well as productive with adequate resources.

Tough business.
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It comes down to whether not you have a QB. Tom Laundry had Roger Staubach, Jimmy Johnson had Troy Aikman. Chuck Knoll had Terry Bradshaw, Cower and Tomlin had Big Ben. Belichek had Brady.
 

GopherGrit said:
So ... what does that say about Murray's one year deal here ... ?
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Exactly.

I do not think that the circumstances are specifically like for like though. Darnold was a total FA coming off a year as backup, whilst Murray was released and still being paid by the Cards his guaranteed dough.
 

GopherGrit said:
Well .... yeah? You need both O and D to win.

If Flores became our next HC after KOC, then he would find an OC to run the offense, and hopefully a good one who can nurture a future superstar franchise QB.


I would think he (Flores) would lean on our new GM to help with this. Identifying a good candidate. Perhaps it would be some up-and-comer from Seattle or the NFC West.


Seems perfectly reasonable?


The negative reactions on here to Flores specifically being a HC seem weird to me. Maybe I'm discounting his Miami stint too heavily?
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The current GM has no prior connection to Flores. I just don't see it likely that he would elevate Flores in virtually any scenario if KOC is canned.

He's going to want to put his own stamp on it and by completely cleaning house.

Flores time with the Pats he was never higher than a position coach

Flores in 3 stops over the last 7 seasons has not been a coach on a team that won even 1 Playoff game. 6 would be as either a HC or DC.

About the only way I could see it happening is if it got so bad that KOC was let go in mid-season, Flores gets elevated to Interim HC and then goes on a mini-run.

Not impossible.

Hopefully it doesn't come to that. Also, often such runs under Interims are "fools gold".
 
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Ope3 said:
Exactly.

I do not think that the circumstances are specifically like for like though. Darnold was a total FA coming off a year as backup, whilst Murray was released and still being paid by the Cards his guaranteed dough.
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Definitely not apples to apples and like NYC laid out he may never have agreed to come here if we wanted two year deal off the bat.

If he has a tremendous year here ... I would have to hope he would want to at least have staying here as a top option in his considerations. But of course that will come at a top dollar ask.
 

Ope3 said:
The current GM has no prior connection to Flores. I just don't see it likely that he would elevate Flores in virtually any scenario if KOC is canned.

He's going to want to put his own stamp on it and by completely cleaning house.

Flores time with the Pats he was never higher than a position coach

Flores in 3 stops over the last 7 seasons has not been a coach on a team that won even 1 Playoff game. 6 would be as either a HC or DC.

About the only way I could see it happening is if it got so bad that KOC was let go in mid-season, Flores gets elevated to Interim HC and then goes on a mini-run.

Not impossible.

Hopefully it doesn't come to that. Also, often such runs under Interims are "fools gold".
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Bold doesn't make sense to me. We may have to agree to disagree.

I do think that the Vikings would evaluate several candidates, certainly. And Flores would be one, if he wants it.

- one of the top DC in the league
- has HC experience
- has the full support of and a good relationship with the Wilfs

The GM has control over the 53 man roster, we learned this week according to the Wilfs, but that does not mean that he has control over the HC. I believe the GM and HC will both report equally in the overall leadership structure. It will be the owners who decide on a new HC. These are all correct.


Put it another way: what if Flores was the top DC in the league the last four years on some other franchise, that hadn't won a playoff game in that stint due mainly to the offense? And Teasley identified Flores as his top candidate. Then landed him as the new Vikings HC.

You'd all probably be ecstatic.
 
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On Bumper to bumper Friday during the Goessling segment, I heard that Rob B will report to new GM Teasley.

This just further confirms to me that not hiring the new GM until after the draft was a purposeful play by the Wilfs to allow the new GM to wash his hands of the 2026 season if need be.

(In spite of Dan's loud consternations to the opposite, either being genuinely or performatively glib of the obvious truth of the above sentence.)


And it makes me wonder how genuinely Rob B actually wanted to be the GM here, or if that was just performative. Because if he does want to be an NFL GM .... then why would he accept this?
 

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