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Former Vikings Wunderkind Lands Dream Coaching Interview
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- Former Vikings Wunderkind Lands Dream Coaching Interview
Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The Minnesota Vikings have made one major shakeup on the offensive coaching staff so far this season, when they declined to renew the contract of OL coach Kris Kuper. There have also been whispers of a possible change at assistant OL coach, as well.
For the most part, though, the Vikings will keep most of the staff on that side of the football together, heading into 2026. The same cannot yet be said on defense, where DC Brian Flores and pass game coordinator Daronte Jones continue to take interviews around the league for a variety of positions .
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That has not always been the case, since head coach Kevin O'Connell arrived on the scene in 2022, especially before Brian Flores got here in 2023. Normally, KOC is worried about his offensive coaches being plucked for promotions elsewhere.
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Grant Udinski adds another head coaching interview
Like Grant Udinski, the 30-year-old (January 12, 1996) offensive genius who was hired away last offseason , to be the Jacksonville Jaguars offensive coordinator. One year later, he is interviewing with the Cleveland Browns , for their vacant head coaching job (left by Kevin Stefanski).
Credit: Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
And not only did the Browns talk with Udinski once, they brought him back for a second interview, in-person. As it turns out, Cleveland isn't the only team sniffing around Minnesota's one-time Wunderkind coach to fill their highest coaching position.
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According to reports Wednesday morning, Grant Udinski is now set to interview for the Buffalo Bills ' vacant head coaching position, as well. If he lands the Bills, Browns or any other HC job this cycle, Udinski will become the youngest head coach in modern NFL history .
The Bills requested an interview with Jaguars offensive coordinator Grant Udinski for their head coaching job, per source.
Udinski, who just turned 30, has a second interview for the Browns job on Friday. pic.twitter.com/GJnb3hdBZr— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 21, 2026
No doubt, Brandon Beane is picturing an offense with Josh Allen at the helm and Udinski whispering in his ear — a combo that could theoretically get Buffalo over their Super Bowl hump.
It's worth noting that Grant Udinski has never even called plays , let alone run a football team. If hired, he'd be relying a lot on that one year of experience that he had tailing Kevin O'Connell in Minnesota.
Udinski started in 2022 as Kevin O'Connell's "assistant to the head coach", a role he held for just one season, before the Vikings promoted him to assistant QB Coach (2023) and, eventually, assistant offensive coordinator (2024).
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Minnesota Vikings offense fell apart without Udinski
In one year without Udinksi, the Minnesota offense fell off a cliff. How much of that was to do with the Vikings' inconsistency at quarterback vs the exit of Grant? It depends on who you ask.
But given how much he helped the Jaguars offense in 2025, along with how much interest he is drumming up around the league… you can't help but wonder if KOC let the wrong assistant walk out those doors last winter.
I interviewed #Jaguars OC Grant Udinski before the season about his rise. Here he is discussing everything he learned with the Vikings under Kevin O'Connell.
Udinski, just 30 years old, is now a finalist for the #Browns HC job.
(Full interview is here: https://t.co/oobsYh4eg6 ) pic.twitter.com/8viGIcOdPo— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) January 18, 2026
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