Of all of the positions on the Vikings' coaching staff, we've known that there was going to be an opening for a new running backs coach the longest, as former coach Eric Bieniemy had accepted a job as offensive coordinator at the University of Colorado back before Leslie Frazier's first game as Vikings' head coach. But, after all of this time, the Vikings have finally filled that spot on their coaching staff.
The Minnesota Vikings have hired James Saxon, late of the Miami Dolphins, to be the team's running backs coach. The 44-year old Saxon was a 6th round pick of the Kansas City Chiefs in the 1988 NFL Draft, and spent eight years in the NFL. He played eight years in the National Football League, playing with the Chiefs from 1988 to 1991, then moving on to the Dolphins for three years, and concluding his career with the Philadelphia Eagles in 1995.
Saxon got into coaching starting in 2001 as the running backs coach for the Kansas City Chiefs. He stayed with the Chiefs until 2007, and coached Priest Holmes, Larry Johnson, and former Viking Tony Richardson to several Pro Bowl berths. The explosion of Holmes was particularly impressive, as in his first three seasons with the Chiefs (2001 to 2003) Holmes rushed for a total of 4,590 yards and 56 touchdowns. . .including 48 touchdowns in 2002 (21) and 2003 (a then-NFL record 27) combined. He also caught 206 passes for an additional 1,976 yards and five more touchdowns in that time.
From there, Saxon moved on to Miami, where he helped Ronnie Brown to a Pro Bowl berth in 2008.
Seems like a pretty solid addition to me.