Your Minnesota Vikings Head Coaching Search Tracker

The Minnesota Vikings officially turned the page to a new era in their history the day after the 2021 season ended, firing head coach Mike Zimmer and general manager Rick Spielman after a disappointing season.

That means that the team is on the lookout for the tenth head coach in team history and someone to help shape the roster going forward. We’re going to use this area to keep track of all the names that are being bandied about to be a part of the organization and give you a place to find the latest news.

Head Coach Second Interviews

Numerous reports have surfaced that indicate that Los Angeles Rams’ offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell will be the next head coach of the Minnesota Vikings. The deal can’t be finalized until after the Super Bowl concludes.

• The first man to get a second shot at speaking with the Vikings’ brass is Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell, who the team spoke to for the second time on Monday, 31 January.
• After they spoke with O’Connell, the Vikings also conducted a second interview with the Rams’ defensive coordinator, former Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Raheem Morris.
• San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans has, reportedly, turned down an opportunity for a second interview with the Vikings, indicating that he will remain with the Niners.
• New York Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham will be in the Twin Cities on Tuesday, 1 February, for his second interview with Vikings’ ownership. (UPDATE: This interview was conducted on Tuesday as scheduled.)
• Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh will, in fact, get a second interview for the Vikings’ head coaching job on Wednesday, 2 February.
• Following his second interview, Harbaugh informed the Vikings that he would be returning to Michigan and not taking the job with the Vikings.

Minnesota Vikings Head Coach Search

The following is a complete list of coaches that the Minnesota Vikings have conducted interviews with for their head coaching position and the date those interviews took place:

• Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive coordinator Todd Bowles (UPDATE: This interview was conducted on Friday, 21 January.)
• Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon (UPDATE: This interview was conducted on Thursday, 20 January.)
• Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett (UPDATE: This interview was conducted on Sunday, 16 January.)
• Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Kellen Moore (UPDATE: This interview was conducted on Wednesday, 19 January.)
• Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris (UPDATE: This interview was conducted on Friday, 21 January.)
• Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell (UPDATE: This interview was conducted on Friday, 21 January.)
• Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn (UPDATE: This interview was conducted on Wednesday, 19 January.)
• San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans (UPDATE: This interview was conducted on Sunday, 23 January.)
• New York Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham (UPDATE: This interview was conducted on Saturday, 29 January.)
• (reportedly) Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh (UPDATE: This interview was conducted on Saturday, 29 January.)

Minnesota Vikings General Manager Search

On Wednesday, 26 January, the Vikings officially hired (former) Browns’ VP of Football Operations, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, to be their new General Manager.

It appears that two finalists, Poles and Adofo-Mensah, have emerged as the finalists for the GM job and will receive in-person interviews next week.

The Chicago Bears will be interviewing Poles for their GM position as well. His interview with the Bears is on Tuesday and his interview with the Vikings is on Wednesday.

• On Wednesday, the Vikings put in requests to interview three people for the GM position. They are New England Patriots’ executive Eliot Wolf, along with Cleveland Browns executives Glenn Cook and Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. (UPDATE: Adofo-Mensah’s interview was conducted on Monday, 17 January. Wolf and Cook were both interviewed on Thursday, 20 January.)
• The Vikings have also requested to interview John Spytek, who currently serves as the Vice President of Player Personnel for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. (UPDATE: This interview was conducted on Monday, 17 January.)
• And you can make it a party of five, as the Vikings have submitted a request to interview Brandon Brown, the Director of Player Personnel for the Philadelphia Eagles. (UPDATE: This interview was conducted on Tuesday, 18 January.)
• Now it’s a six-pack, as the Vikings have requested permission to interview Ryan Poles, the Executive Director of Player Personnel for the Kansas City Chiefs. (UPDATE: This interview was conducted on Wednesday, 18 January.)
• Another Eagles’ executive is being looked at by the Vikings, as the team has requested permission to interview Catherine Raiche, the Vice President of Football Operations in Philadelphia. (UPDATE: This interview was conducted on Monday, 17 January.)
• The Vikings have requested permission from the Tennessee Titans to interview Monti Ossenfort, who currently serves as their Vice President of Football Operations. (UPDATE: This interview was conducted on Sunday, 16 January.)

Minnesota Vikings Rumors

• The first name to get an interview for the Vikings will apparently be Doug Pederson, former Eagles’ head coach and Chiefs’ offensive coordinator.
• There is also apparently some interest in Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin. . .yeah, that Lane Kiffin.
• Former Indianapolis Colts and Detroit Lions head coach Jim Caldwell did not turn down an interview request from the Vikings, contrary to reports.

We’ll have all the news that we can get right here for you as soon as we’ve got it.