6 potential new head coaches the Vikings should already be thinking about

Joe Woods

Current Role: Defensive Coordinator, Cleveland Browns

With their last two head coaches having a defensive background, the Vikings will probably want their next hire to be someone that has spent their coaching career on the offensive side of the ball. But if Minnesota is still open to hiring another head coach with defensive expertise, Joe Woods is someone they could consider.

Currently on the Browns’ staff with former Vikings assistant Kevin Stefanski, Woods has helped Cleveland’s defense develop into one of the best in the NFL so far this season.

He’s 51-years-old now, but he’s been coaching in the NFL since 2004 when he was in charge of the defensive backs for the Buccaneers.

Following a two-year stint in Tampa Bay, Woods actually spent 2006 to 2013 as the defensive backs coach for the Vikings. So he is already familiar with Minnesota’s owners, general manager Rick Spielman, and some of the other longtime members of the Vikings’ front office.

With the secondary being the area of the defense Woods has concentrated the most on during his coaching career, perhaps he can help Minnesota fix an area of their team that has gone from a strength to a weakness during the last few seasons with Mike Zimmer in charge.