After a disappointing 2025 campaign for the Minnesota Vikings that ended with missing the playoffs, fans have been hoping for the team to make some changes to their coaching staff this offseason.
Well, on Tuesday, the Vikings announced a change to their coaching staff, but it's not one that fans were calling for, or even one they expected.
Minnesota revealed on Tuesday that Mike Pettine is stepping down from his role as the team's assistant head coach due to his decision to retire from coaching in the NFL. Pettine has been working in the league for more than two decades, including a stint as the Cleveland Browns head coach from 2014 to 2015, and he's decided that the time has now come for him to step aside.
Will the Minnesota Vikings make any notable changes to their coaching staff this year?
For the most part, Vikings coaches on the defensive side of the ball should feel pretty good about their job security this offseason. The same can't be said, however, for the rest of Minnesota's coaching staff.
Given the performance of the position groups they were put in charge of in 2025, guys like quarterbacks coach Josh McCown, offensive line coach Chris Kuper, and special teams coordinator Matt Daniels could all be nearing the end of their tenures in Minnesota.
When speaking to the local media on Tuesday, Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell didn't rule out any additional coaching changes this year, but he said he just didn't "really have any concrete updates or plans at this point."
It would be pretty shocking if Pettine's departure turned out to be the only notable one from Minnesota's coaching staff this offseason, since they fell well short of expectations by finishing the 2025 campaign on the outside of the playoffs with a 9-8 record.
The Vikings are also still figuring out the future of defensive coordinator Brian Flores, which will definitely impact whether or not they make any significant coaching changes on that side of the ball this year.
If Minnesota wants to get better before next season, some adjustments to the team's coaching staff feel necessary, and if O'Connell doesn't believe his staff is in need of any notable changes, then he could potentially be in for a rude awakening in 2026.