Day two of Minnesota Vikings minicamp has concluded, bringing the first annual obligatory offseason practices to a close. The team will complete their final minicamp practice on Thursday before having a few weeks off.
The last OTA practices of the offseason are set for June 16-18. The majority of the players will then have a month break before returning on July 21 to begin training camp. What will we do with our time off?
While we wait for football to resume, it appears like the Minnesota Vikings front office will be busy signing contract extensions for assistant coaches.
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 entering contract years and may be on the approach of signing extensions. In fact, he adds to keep an eye out for something on Phillips in the “not-too-distant future”.
“Brian Flores and Wes Phillips are entering contract years. My understanding is that negotiations are taking place with a couple of those coaches. It appears like we may hear something from Wes Phillips in the near future. But, yes, they have some business with the coaching staff.
Wes Phillips arrived 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 continue to coach Minnesota Vikings quarterbacks, Wes is a seasoned coaching voice that KOC does not have to worry about losing for his next big opportunity.
Wes Phillips has been by Kevin O’Connell’s side since the beginning of his head coaching stint, with the exception of an arrest, pleading guilty, and suspension for a DWI in December 2023. It appears that this will continue in the future.
Phillips spent 2014-2018 working with Sean McVay in Washington before moving to Los Angeles in 2019. Before that, he worked with his father Wade Phillips in Dallas from 2007 to 2013, first as a quality control coordinator, then as an assistant offensive line coach, and finally as the Cowboys’ tight ends coach for the 2013 season.
Prior to joining his father’s NFL team, Wes was a collegiate quarterbacks coach at West Texas A&M (2004-2005) and Baylor (2006).
Flores extension incoming too…?
It’s clear that Goessling isn’t trying to conceal the fact that Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is actively negotiating contracts with several coaches. While he stops short of saying there’s something imminent between defensive coordinator Brian Flores and the Vikings, Flores is notably the only other coach mentioned by name alongside Wes Phillips.
Compared to Phillips’ role on offense, the Vikings’ defense is far more dependent on Flores’ leadership. There’s a reason no one runs a defense quite like him. Since replacing the unsuccessful Ed Donatell after just one season, Flores has transformed the unit. In 2022, the Vikings ranked 28th in points allowed (427) and 31st in yards allowed (6,608). By 2024, under Flores’ guidance, they jumped to 5th in points allowed (332) and 16th in yards allowed (5,702).
The only thing holding Flores back from another head coaching job is the baggage from his time in Miami, particularly his handling of Tua Tagovailoa, as well as his ongoing lawsuit against the NFL and several teams. Until those matters are resolved, Kevin O’Connell and the Vikings will gladly keep him as their defensive coordinator.
