In today’s NFL, it’s nearly impossible to keep a young, talented assistant coach under wraps. The Minnesota Vikings are experiencing this firsthand as their coaching staff has drawn attention from other teams during the hiring cycle.
The latest team to reach out is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who recently interviewed Vikings assistant offensive coordinator/assistant quarterbacks coach Grant Udinski for their vacant offensive coordinator role. This position opened up after Liam Coen left to take a job with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Buccaneers were taken by surprise when Coen accepted the Jaguars job. Just a day before, Coen had agreed to become the highest-paid coordinator in NFL history and publicly withdrew from consideration for the Jaguars role. The following day, however, Coen still hadn’t signed his contract, and chaos ensued. By late Thursday, Coen officially accepted the job, leaving the Buccaneers scrambling for a new offensive coordinator.
Udinski, 28, has become a hot name in coaching circles. This marks his third interview in recent weeks. He previously spoke with the Seattle Seahawks twice about their offensive coordinator position and also interviewed with the New England Patriots for the same role before Josh McDaniels was hired by new head coach Mike Vrabel.
Udinski has been gaining recognition for some time now. After being hired by Kevin O’Connell when he took the Vikings job, Udinski had previously worked with the Carolina Panthers and started his coaching career under Matt Rhule at Baylor. His rising profile has made him an attractive candidate for other teams.
While losing Udinski would be a blow to the Vikings, it’s also a reflection of their success. The experience he gains in interviews could benefit Minnesota by bringing fresh perspectives and ideas back to the team. If Udinski departs, it’s simply part of the cost of having a successful season, especially with a 14-3 record.