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Vikings Lose Promising Young Coach to Jaguars

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Trevor Squire | Last updated Feb 6, 2025 3:12 PM ET

It was only a matter of time before Minnesota Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell would lose one of his most promising coaching prospects.

An original hire in 2022 by O'Connell, assistant coach Grant Udinski was promoted every offseason he's spent in Minnesota. He was the assistant offensive coordinator and assistant quarterbacks coach for the 2024 season.

Beyond the job title, Udinski's was foundational to the Vikings' quarterbacks program, widely coveted for its work in helping Sam Darnold achieve Pro Bowl status after just one season in Minnesota.

But for all the good work Udinski has done over the years, O'Connell knew he would eventually outgrow his role.

The 29-year-old took several interviews over the offseason and has landed in the AFC.

On Wednesday, Feb. 5, the Jacksonville Jaguars announced the hiring of Udinski as their offensive coordinator under new head coach Liam Cohen.

Cohen will be the Jaguars' play-caller, but the role is still a considerable promotion for Udinski who will be second in command.

"Grant will bring a wealth of knowledge, energy and a winning mindset to help lead our offense here in Jacksonville," Coen said in a statement. "He is a rising star in this league that has been a pillar of success for the Vikings organization and we can't wait to have him lead our offense."

Udinski played tight end at Davidson and defensive end at Towson before beginning his coaching career at Baylor. He joined Matt Rhule's coaching staff and followed him to the Carolina Panthers before landing in Minnesota.

When O'Connell interviewed Udinski in 2022, he likened the conversation to “interviewing a guy who could build a car from scratch for a job at a car wash."

Quarterback coach Josh McCown sees shades of O’Connell in Udinski, both deeply obsessive in their football knowledge.

“It reminds me a ton of Kevin, when I had him as a quarterbacks coach [in 2015 with the Browns],” McCown, a former NFL quarterback, told the Minnesota Star Tribune in November 2024. “You could tell immediately, with his presence and intellect, he was going to be a really good coach. That’s definitely what I can feel from Grant.”

Udinski's opportunities were capped in Minnesota with offensive coordinator Wes Phillips serving as O'Connell's right-hand man. McCown and wide receivers coach Keenan McCardell are also considered future offensive coordinator and head coach prospects.

Udinski may not have left a serious void in the coaching ranks, but he was a glue guy for the coaching staff who excelled at collaborating and executing many of the staff's plans.

“It would not surprise me if he’s on a pretty skyrocketed timeline,” O'Connell said.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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