It is predicted that two Vikings coaches will depart the team.

Predicted Exodus: Two Key Vikings Coaches Poised to Depart After 2025 Season

As the offseason evolves into a whirlwind of speculation, one narrative is gaining traction among NFL analysts and insiders: the Minnesota Vikings are on the brink of witnessing the departure of two foundational members of their coaching staff. Despite the team’s on-field successes and contract negotiations aimed at securing continuity, mounting external interest points toward defensive coordinator Brian Flores and defensive pass-game coordinator Daronte Jones both entertaining—and perhaps soon accepting—offers that would send them elsewhere. This potential exodus, if realized, would represent a seismic shift in the Vikings’ coaching landscape, with significant ramifications for both scheme continuity and player development.

Brian Flores: From Defensive Architect to Head-Coach Candidate

When the Vikings hired Brian Flores prior to the 2023 season, their defense languished near the bottom of the league, ranking 31st in total defense in 2022. Under Flores’s guidance, however, Minnesota vaulted to a top-five scoring defense by 2025—an impressive transformation that has not gone unnoticed across the league. Flores’s philosophy of aggressive, disciplined fronts combined with opportunistic play-calling resulted in the Vikings finishing the regular season among the NFL leaders in takeaways and opponent fourth-down stops.

It is this very success that has fueled speculation regarding Flores’s next career move. According to NFL insider Jason Bell, both the Jacksonville Jaguars and New York Jets have expressed interest in interviewing Flores for head coaching vacancies, highlighting his capacity to replicate the defensive turnaround he engineered in Miami and subsequently Minnesota . The Jaguars, fresh off a surprising resurgence in 2024, may see Flores as the missing piece to elevate their club into perennial contenders. Likewise, the Jets, eager to solidify a winning culture, view Flores’s linebacker-centric schemes and motivational prowess as ideal for their roster.

Flores himself has maintained focus on his Vikings responsibilities, emphasizing that his primary goal remains maximizing the team’s championship window. Yet, the pattern of “Black Monday” in the NFL—a term referring to the mass firing and hiring carousel that follows the season’s culmination—has already swung into motion. As organizations seek fresh leadership, Flores’s name prominently appears on multiple wishlists, signaling that an offer could arrive imminently. Were he to depart, the Vikings would lose not only a coordinator but a mentor to players like Harrison Phillips, whose breakout under Flores’s tutelage illustrates the coach’s ability to develop talent and instill confidence in every defensive unit member.

Daronte Jones: Poised for Advancement in Louisiana

While Flores contends with head-coaching overtures, Daronte Jones—the Vikings’ defensive backs coach and pass-game coordinator—faces his own crossroads. Jones, who joined Minnesota’s staff in 2020 under former head coach Mike Zimmer and remained a fixture through the transition to Kevin O’Connell’s regime, has garnered praise for his work with a secondary that posted a franchise-best interceptions total in 2024. Veteran safety Harrison Smith credited Jones for refining the unit’s communication and technique, and rookie cornerback Mekhi Blackmon’s rapid assimilation into the NFL further underscores Jones’s teaching acumen.

Despite these achievements, Jones has already interviewed for the defensive coordinator position with the New Orleans Saints, a role that offers both a promotion and a return to the city where he previously served as defensive coordinator at LSU in 2021 . The Saints, seeking to rebound from consecutive sub-.500 seasons, view Jones as a candidate capable of revitalizing an underperforming defense. Sources close to the situation report that Jones left New Orleans’s staff meetings impressed by the organizational culture and the opportunity to implement a defense built around versatility and speed.

Minnesota’s front office has expressed a desire to retain Jones—recognizing that his rapport with cornerbacks and safeties is a key ingredient in the Vikings’ defensive formula. Yet, when confronted with the chance to ascend to coordinator rank and design an entire defense, many coaches find the allure irresistible. Should Jones decide to leave for New Orleans, the Vikings would need to promote from within or target a candidate capable of maintaining the secondary’s upward trajectory.

Contract Talks vs. Coaching Carousel

The Vikings have not been oblivious to these external pressures. Earlier this spring, head coach Kevin O’Connell successfully secured a multiyear extension, followed by public commitments from the organization to extend both Flores and offensive coordinator Wes Phillips before the draft . While these moves signal an intent to preserve staff stability, the salary-cap realities for coaches often differ from player negotiations. The substantial pay bump associated with head-coaching positions elsewhere can outpace any internal offer the Vikings might make, especially when paired with the added prestige and autonomy.

Moreover, the preceding rounds of the NFL coaching carousel have shown that once interest reaches a head coach’s closest lieutenants, it rarely dissipates. In the past month alone, multiple coordinators across the league have been swayed by new opportunities, underscoring the league-wide trend of upward mobility. The Vikings’ front office must therefore balance the need to lock down key staff with an understanding that certain ambitions—like leading an entire team—cannot always be countered by counteroffers.

Organizational Preparedness and Succession Planning

Recognizing the volatile nature of coaching staff retention, the Vikings have quietly laid groundwork in anticipation of potential departures. Senior assistant coaches such as Charlie Frye (quarterbacks) and Matt Daniels (special teams) have been more involved in broader scheme discussions this offseason, hinting at an unofficial mentorship pipeline. Additionally, graduate assistants and quality-control coaches, including rising talents like Michael Hutchings (currently safeties coach) and Thad Bogardus (outside linebackers), have been entrusted with game-plan responsibilities, providing them a taste of coordinator duties.

Behind the scenes, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is cataloging potential external candidates—veteran coaches with proven track records and innovative minds capable of continuing the Vikings’ defensive excellence. Industry scouts suggest that the team will target interviewees with experience in multiple front alignments and man-coverage schemes, reflecting the modern offense’s complexity. While these efforts cannot entirely eliminate the disruption of losing Flores or Jones, they demonstrate proactive measures to minimize the vacuum and expedite the transition.

Impact on Players and Team Dynamics

For the roster, particularly defensive personnel, the prospect of losing trusted coaches can be unsettling. Star linebacker Danielle Hunter, who posted career highs under Flores’s system, has publicly lauded the coach for unlocking his pass-rush potential. Cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. and safety Camryn Bynum have echoed similar sentiments, citing Jones’s role in improving their footwork and film study habits. Any coaching turnover will require adjustments in terminology, technique emphasis, and communication protocols—factors that could initially hinder on-field cohesion.

Veteran players accustomed to the current staff’s style may find themselves relearning assignments, while younger players could face a steeper learning curve under new leadership. In contrast, fresh perspectives sometimes galvanize a group, inspiring renewed effort and creativity. The Vikings’ ability to navigate this coaching shake-up—and perhaps even leverage it as an opportunity—will be a defining storyline of their 2025 campaign.

The Broader NFL Context

The Minnesota situation is far from unique; it exemplifies a league where successful coordinators seldom remain in subordinate roles long after their achievements become apparent. Recent hires around the league include defensive staffs welcoming savvy tacticians once confined to positional roles. As playoff contenders seek an edge, the hunt for defensive architects and pass-game specialists intensifies, rendering the retention of top assistants an uphill battle.

For a franchise like Minnesota—poised on the cusp of contention under a dynamic young head coach—the central question becomes whether institutional loyalty and competitive compensation can outweigh the allure of ascension. While the Vikings franchise boasts a storied history and a passionate fan base, only one head-coach vacancy can be filled per season. Flores and Jones, possessing both pedigree and momentum, are likely at the top of several wish lists—and thus face decisions that could reshape not only their careers but Minnesota’s trajectory.

Conclusion

As predictions crystallize into potential reality, the Minnesota Vikings find themselves at a critical juncture. The anticipated departures of Brian Flores and Daronte Jones—each driven by external interest and the natural progression of ambition—would create both a challenge and an opportunity. Internally, the organization’s recent contract extensions and preparatory measures demonstrate an understanding of the stakes, yet the irresistible pull of head-coaching positions and coordinator promotions may prove too strong. How the Vikings respond—through succession planning, external hires, or promoting from within—will test their resilience and strategic vision.

Ultimately, any coaching turnover in Minnesota will require rapid adaptation from players and staff alike, demanding renewed communication and unity. Should these departures occur, the Vikings will embark upon a new defensive chapter, with the potential to harness fresh ideas and perspectives. Whether this coaching carousel leaves the franchise diminished or invigorated will be revealed as the 2025 season unfolds—underscoring the ever-shifting dynamics at the heart of NFL competition.