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Minnesota Vikings best kept secret is getting out as wunderkind assistant receives another interview outside the building

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Tyler Forness | Last updated Jan 21, 2025 2:32 PM ET

Assistant coaches are the lifeblood of a great organization. The head coach is the most important, but having good assistants around you is pivotal for long-term success.

Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell has hired quite a talented coaching staff. So far, three of his assistants have gotten interviews for promotions outside the organization with defensive coordinator Brian Flores getting multiple head coaching interviews.

Luckily for the Vikings, they are likely going to retain Flores because the organizations that hired him are going in different directions. There is one assistant that is still in danger of getting poached, and it would be a huge loss for the Vikings.

Vikings assistant Grant Udinski continues to get interviews

It isn't the offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach, or wide receivers coach that has gotten the most attention from other teams. It's assistant offensive coordinator/assistant quarterbacks coach Grant Udinski who is getting those interviews.

Last week, Udinski interviewed for the second time with the Seattle Seahawks for their offensive coordinator job after they chose to move on from Ryan Grubb. On Monday, Udinski interviewed with the New England Patriots for their vacant offensive coordinator position.

The Patriots interviewed Vikings assistant OC/assistant QBs coach Grant Udinski for their offensive coordinator job yesterday, per sources. Udinski's very valuable in Minnesota—and considered a rising star in the field.

The 28-year-old is also a finalist for the Seattle OC job.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) January 21, 2025

Udinski, 28, has been a rising star for quite some time. O'Connell hired Udinski when he took the job in Minnesota after he spent time with the Carolina Panthers and is now a popular name in coaching circles.

It would be an interesting hire for the Patriots. New head coach Mike Vrabel was rumored to be bringing back Josh McDaniels for the position, as he's held it on multiple occasions. The shift to bringing in young assistants for interviews is a good one, especially for quarterback Drake Maye.

Udinski was a huge part of the Vikings' process in selecting a young quarterback this past offseason. They ended up selecting J.J. McCarthy, but Udinski does know a lot about who Maye is as a player and that could make a huge difference from the jump.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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