The Minnesota Vikings just finished a 9-8 season that felt like a roller coaster with no brakes. One minute you're high on a 5-0 finish, and the next, you're watching the playoffs from the couch because of a tiebreaker or a bad October. Now that we’re officially into the 2026 offseason, the mn vikings latest news and rumors are flying faster than a Justin Jefferson post-route.
Honestly? It’s a bit of a mess right now at TCO Performance Center.
Between coaching retirements nobody saw coming and a front office that seems suddenly "non-committal" about their franchise quarterback, Vikings fans are rightfully a little on edge. We aren't just talking about depth chart tweaks here. We are talking about the core identity of the Kevin O'Connell era.
The Coaching Shakeup: Mike Pettine Out and Brian Flores... Maybe?
The first domino to fall wasn't even one fans were pushing for. Assistant head coach Mike Pettine officially called it a career this week. He’s retiring after two decades in the league. While he wasn't the guy calling the plays, he was the "adult in the room" for O’Connell. He basically acted as a sounding board for a young head coach. Losing that veteran presence is a bigger deal than the box score shows.
But the real anxiety in the Twin Cities? That’s all about Brian Flores.
Flores has been a miracle worker for this defense. He took a unit that was basically a sieve and turned it into a top-10 group in multiple metrics. Now, the rumors are swirling that he’s interviewing elsewhere. It isn't just head coaching gigs, either. He reportedly looked at the Washington Commanders' defensive coordinator role.
👉 See also: LeBron James Without Beard: Why the King Rarely Goes Clean Shaven Anymore
Why would he take a lateral move? Maybe he wants a fresh start, or maybe there's friction we don't see. If he leaves, keep an eye on Raheem Morris or even an internal promotion like Daronte Jones. Jones has been "the guy" in the secondary and apparently aced his interviews with other teams last year. The Vikings might have to promote him just to keep him from fleeing to Dallas or New York.
J.J. McCarthy and the "Cryptic" Quarterback Future
If you want to get a Vikings fan to start sweating, just bring up Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s latest press conference. When asked if J.J. McCarthy is the undisputed starter for 2026, Kwesi didn't exactly give a "yes."
He said, "If I say that... that kind of binds us into a certain area."
Ouch.
McCarthy’s 2025 was a tale of two seasons. He missed 70% of the games over the last two years due to injuries. When he was on the field, he looked... okay. A 57.6% completion rate isn't going to win you a Super Bowl. However, he did finish the season with a 100.4 passer rating over the final month.
✨ Don't miss: When is Georgia's next game: The 2026 Bulldog schedule and what to expect
The mn vikings latest news and rumors suggest the team is looking for a "high-end" insurance policy. We aren't talking about a career backup like Sean Mannion. Rumors are linking the Vikings to Mac Jones—who actually played lights out for the 49ers last year when Brock Purdy was down—and even Marcus Mariota. The goal is a "competitive room."
Basically, J.J. is going to have to win his job all over again in August.
The Roster Gut-Check: Brian O'Neill and Javon Hargrave
The salary cap is a monster that eventually eats everyone. Right now, the Vikings are staring at some massive cap hits that don't match the production.
- Brian O'Neill: He’s 30. He’s the leader of the line. But he has a $23.1 million cap hit and zero guaranteed money left. Cutting him saves almost $20 million. It’s hard to imagine this team without him, but don't be shocked if they force a pay cut or an extension that pushes the "dead money" down the road.
- Javon Hargrave: This one feels like a miss in hindsight. He had 3.5 sacks in 16 games. For a guy getting paid like an elite disruptor, that’s just not enough. With Jalen Redmond emerging as a legitimate interior threat, Hargrave might be a "cap casualty" before March.
The team already started the "bottom of the roster" churn by signing eight guys to reserve/future contracts, including WR Dontae Fleming and TE Bryson Nesbit. These aren't stars, but they are the guys who will be fighting for special teams spots in five months.
Draft Capital and the No. 18 Pick
The Vikings are currently sitting at the 18th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Historically, that’s been a weird spot for them. They got Garrett Bradbury there in 2019 and Erasmus James in 2005. One worked out (mostly), one really didn't.
🔗 Read more: Vince Carter Meme I Got One More: The Story Behind the Internet's Favorite Comeback
What’s interesting this year is the lack of mid-round picks. Because of trades for guys like Cam Robinson (the Jaguars deal) and Jordan Mason (the 49ers deal), Kwesi is missing his 4th and 6th rounders.
Expect a trade down. It’s the Kwesi special. If a team wants to jump up for a falling receiver or a tackle, the Vikings will likely move back to the late 20s to recoup those middle-round assets. They need cheap labor to balance out the massive contracts they gave Justin Jefferson and Christian Darrisaw.
What You Should Watch For Next
The next three weeks are the "quiet before the storm," but the rumors won't stop. If you're a fan trying to make sense of the noise, here is how you should actually track the progress of this offseason:
First, watch the coaching carousel. If Brian Flores isn't retained by the end of January, the Vikings are in full-on defensive rebuild mode. His scheme is so specific that you can't just plug in a generic coach and expect the same results.
Second, look at the backup QB market. If the Vikings sign a veteran for more than $8 million, that is a massive signal that they don't trust J.J. McCarthy's health or his arm. A cheap veteran means J.J. is the guy. An expensive one means we have a quarterback controversy on our hands.
Finally, keep an eye on Jordan Mason. He was a bright spot in the backfield late in 2025, and with Aaron Jones getting older (though still a finalist for the Salute to Service award), Mason might be the "bell cow" back by the time we hit training camp.
The Vikings are at a fork in the road. They can either double down on the young core and hope for health, or they can get aggressive and replace the veterans who are aging out of their prime. Knowing this front office, it'll probably be a little bit of both. Just don't expect it to be boring.