Category: Former Vikings

Former Vikings coach returns to Minnesota ahead of Sunday Night Football

For one former Vikings coach turned media member, it was a full-circle moment to return to a place he had coached twice in his career. 

The Minnesota Vikings and the Detroit Lions will faceoff on Sunday Night on a national stage, thanks to NBC. Members of their broadcast crew have been at the Viking and Lions facilities all week as they prepare for the matchup to get a better feel of the team.

For one former Vikings coach turned media member, it was a full-circle moment to return to a place he had coached twice in his career.

Tony Dungy, who coached for the Vikings in two stints at various positions, returned to the team’s facility and was left in awe of it. He praised the investment by the Wilf family in the facilities, offering special praise to the team’s locker room and meeting room.

One fan on social media commented in fun that it was a long way from the Winter Park days to which Dungy agreed. And while Dungy also mentioned he misses Minnesota, he said that the winter makes him miss it a little less.

 

Former Vikings first-round pick joins FIU coaching staff

For some former players, being as close to the game as possible as a coach is what they find joy in after their playing days. 

Most players in the NFL have spent so long in football that they can find themselves always returning to the game in some form or fashion. Some former players will become agents, front office members, or analysts.

For some former players, being as close to the game as possible as a coach is what they find joy in after their playing days.

On Friday, Pete Thamel of ESPN reported coaching changes for the FIU football program and one staff member is a former Vikings first-round pick. Kenechi Udeze, who was drafted 20th overall by the Vikings in the 2004 NFL Draft, took the defensive line coaching position with FIU.

Udeze was with the Vikings from 2004 to 2008 and quickly joined the coaching ranks after his playing career ended. He has spent time at various schools such as Washington, Pittsburgh, LSU, and Vanderbilt.

He has also held positions with NFL teams like the Tennessee Titans and Seattle Seahawks.

Does a Kirk Cousins reunion make sense for the Vikings?

All of this is happening in Minnesota while Kirk Cousins is seeing his time in Atlanta come to a close, so is a reunion in order?

The Minnesota Vikings have had quite the history at the quarterback position. In recent years, they had the stability of Kirk Cousins; they moved on from him, drafted J.J. McCarthy, and signed Sam Darnold. Now they have the veteran in Darnold playing like an MVP while McCarthy is sidelined by injury.

All of this is happening in Minnesota while Kirk Cousins is seeing his time in Atlanta come to a close. Does that mean a reunion is in order?

The Falcons drafted Michael Penix Jr. out of Washington in the top ten of this April’s draft. He was seen as the long-term replacement for Cousins, but that was fast-tracked last week when he was named the starter over Cousins. Now, Adam Schefter of ESPN is reporting that the team is expected to release him, which raises the question of whether a reunion between him and the Vikings makes sense.

If the team were to lose Daniel Jones to free agency and move on from Sam Darnold, having someone like Cousins in on a veteran minium behind McCarthy would be ideal. There is no one better to teach the system to the former Michigan Wolverine than Cousins. He also still has strong ties to the community and team overall.

It may not be a popular decision, but it is right if the dominos fall the way we laud out.

Vikings Hall of Famer Randy Moss announces cancer diagnosis

On Friday, Pro Football Hall of Famer and former Minnesota Viking Randy Moss announced on Instagram that he was diagnosed with cancer.

On Friday, Pro Football Hall of Famer and former Minnesota Viking Randy Moss announced on Instagram that he was diagnosed with cancer. During his Instagram Live session, the Vikings legend proudly proclaimed he was “cancer free” following a procedure after a six-hour procedure six days ago in Charlotte.

Moss provided details of the procedure and placement of the cancer by explaining that he had a Whipple procedure and that the cancer was just outside the bile duct, between the pancreas and the liver.

He also confirmed a previous procedure he underwent on Thanksgiving.

Moss explained he knew something was wrong when he noticed discolored urine, and the procedure on Thanksgiving confirmed the cancer. He is now using his platform to urge everyone to get regular screenings because “By the grace of God, my liver started acting up”; otherwise, he would have been unaware.

Moss announced his plan is to return to television with ESPN and that, in the meantime, fans can support cancer research with merchandise on his website. All proceeds from the sales on his site are being donated to further cancer research.

Everyone at Vikings Wire and within the football world is rooting for Randy Moss in his recovery.

Kirk Cousins is ready for a ‘hostile’ environment in return to Minnesota

When speaking to the media on Wednesday, Cousins praised Vikings fans while setting realistic expectations. 

The return of Kirk Cousins is just days away, as the Falcons prepare to travel to Minnesota for their Week 14 matchup with the Vikings. The former Vikings quarterback has had some good success with his new team in 2024, which is competing with the Bucs for the NFC South division title.

When speaking to the media on Wednesday, Cousins praised Vikings fans while setting realistic expectations.

“They’re great football fans, and I would think as a result, they’ll make it hostile.”

Cousins also shared that he is excited to see many people when he returns to Minnesota. Some new friends he is bringing with him include an offense full of top-ten draft picks such as Bijan Robinson, Kyle Pitts, and Drake London.

Handling all of those players is going to come down to some key players on defense. Players like Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel will have to give him a warm Brian Flores defense welcome.

Vikings offer support for Randy Moss following health update

On Sunday, as fans were getting ready for their NFL kickoffs, Hall of Fame wide receiver Randy Moss shared a message on his Instagram.

On Sunday, as fans were getting ready for their NFL kickoffs, Hall of Fame wide receiver Randy Moss shared a message on his Instagram. He said he and his family are dealing with a “health situation” and that he need support from “prayer warriors.”

Everyone heard those words and Coach Kevin O’Connell shared a message of support from him and the Vikings as a whole on Wednesday.

“Randy Moss put out a message in regards to something he has going on. I just want to, on behalf of the whole Vikings organization, send out our well wishes and support. We love Randy, and we know our fanbase feels the same way; he is revered by all Vikings fans and all NFL fans. I just want to let him know that we are here for him, just well wishes and support for him.”

Moss shared no further details on his health situation, but on ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown, he said he would let fans know more as time went on.

Kirk Cousins has worst game of the season before Vikings matchup

Of course, Cousins will be playing the Vikings coming off his worst performance of the year against the Chargers.

The much-anticipated return of Kirk Cousins to the land of Vikings and Skol chants will be the talk of the town this week. The Atlanta Falcons and Minnesota Vikings will face off on Sunday, but before they do that we want to look back on how Kirk Cousins has faired in Atlanta this season.

Of course, Cousins will be playing the Vikings coming off his worst performance of the year against the Chargers.

Cousins kicked off the month of December with a four-interception performance against the Chargers on Sunday. One of those interceptions was a pick-six that fans enjoyed inside U.S. Bank Stadium while the Vikings were trailing.

In his last three games, Cousins has 10 turnovers, no touchdowns, and just 724 passing yards.

Brian Flores and the Vikings defense should be primed and ready to welcome him back home. Perhaps he may throw a pick-six and help the Vikings get the score they never got on that fourth checkdown.

Former Vikings OC Norv Turner comes out of retirement, joins Raiders staff

Norv Turner will come out of retirement to become an offensive assistant for the Las Vegas Raiders.

The Las Vegas Raiders fired several offensive coaches after Week 9 as the team stands at 2-7 on the season. They have had a rotation of quarterbacks this season and they decided they needed an offensive mind to get things going.

They decided to go deep into the well of great offensive minds and bring one out of retirement.

Norv Turner, former NFL head coach and Vikings offensive coordinator, will come out of retirement to become an offensive assistant for the Las Vegas Raiders. Ian Rapoport of NFL Media first reported the addition to Antoinio Pierce’s staff.

The move also reunites Turner with his son, Scott Turner, the new offensive coordinator for the Raiders. Scott Turner originally joined the Raiders staff in 2023 as their passing game coordinator.

Norv Turner spent three seasons with the Vikings from 2015 to 2016 before he unexpectedly resigned. As a head coach, Turner is 114-122-1 in games coached in the NFL.

Former Vikings guard is highest graded pass blocker in 2024 by PFF

The former Minnesota Vikings guard has thrived since being traded with the Jacksonville Jaguars last October.

The work of Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is among the best in the entire NFL. His front office does a great job of maneuvering contract negotiations, he is aggressive in the NFL draft, but his trades may be leaving for room to grow.

One player he recently traded has since thrived in their new home, Ezra Cleveland.

The former Minnesota Vikings guard has thrived since being traded with the Jacksonville Jaguars last October. He has made himself the centerpiece of a Jaguars offensive line that was once a major question mark for the Jaguars is no longer the case.

He is the highest-graded pass-blocking guard, earning an 84.4 grade from PFF. Ironically enough, Ed Ingram, who has taken over his starting role, is graded as one of the worst. Out of 69 qualifying guards who have played, he ranks 67th with a 29.4 grade.

The offensive line has held up well, but perhaps it would have been even stronger had the Jaguars held on and invested in Ezra Cleveland the way they have.

Former Vikings QB Kirk Cousins joins elite club in NFL history

After Thursday, it is safe to say the former Viking is completely healed following his surgery on the achilles he tore.

The Minnesota Vikings have done just fine in 2024 without their former franchise quarterback, Kirk Cousins. The veteran quarterback left Minnesota this offseason in free agency when he signed with the Atlanta Falcons coming off his achilles tear last season.

After Thursday, it is safe to say the former Viking is completely healed following his surgery on the achilles he tore.

Cousins had looked so-so through four weeks of the NFL season, but in Week 5 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he exploded and looked like his old self. He was able to lead a comeback in overtime to win against a downtrodden Bucs secondary. He led that comeback behind a historic 509 passing yards and four touchdowns, becoming just the 13th player in league history to do so.

Ironically, he also set the franchise single-game record held by Matt Ryan, who was inducted into the team’s ring of honor at halftime of the game.