Will the Minnesota Vikings’ 2026 season go pear-shaped? Probably not – – the franchise has a solid roster, and Kyler Murray has arrived to stabilize the quarterback position. Yet, in the off chance the season breaks bad, Minnesota will have an unusual number of head coaching alternatives; if the club, for example, finishes 7-10 or worse, ownership and the general manager may prefer a different path.
Ranked in no particular order, here’s what we mean when we say shockingly good Plan Bs.
Who Could Replace Kevin O’Connell — In Theory?
Mike Tomlin
This man defensively coordinated the Vikings before taking the big job in Pittsburgh 20 years ago. It was his springboard assignment before hitting it big. Minnesota’s current ownership group knows Tomlin – – intimately.
He stepped down after 19 seasons in Pittsburgh without ever posting a losing record, won a Super Bowl, and reached the playoffs 13 times. His resume would instantly command a veteran locker room and satisfy an ownership group seeking stability.
The catch is availability: Tomlin has indicated he does not plan to return to coaching anytime soon. But if a year away changes that, Minnesota would offer a talented roster and a quarterback situation worth inheriting if Kyler Murray sticks around.
The Vikings’ emphasis on winning, no matter what, jibes with Tomlin’s steady history. If you need at least 9-8 – – the Viking way — Tomlin will get you there.
Brian Flores
Perhaps the frontrunner if O’Connell is not back in 2027, Flores may be a guy the franchise cannot let leave. Since arriving in Minnesota, his defense ranks second leaguewide per EPA/Play. Despite employing an offense-first head coach in O’Connell, the Vikings’ current brand of football is defense – – thanks to Flores.
His defenses have become the team’s identity, and the Vikings extended him after three seasons in which they ranked among the NFL’s best in points allowed and takeaways. Flores also has prior head coaching experience at Miami, so this wouldn’t be an experiment with new job demands.
The question is whether Minnesota wants to pivot from an offense-minded head coach to a defensive one. If O’Connell exits after a disappointing year, continuity with Flores could keep the overall roster structure intact.
It’s also worth noting that very few fans, if any, would complain about Flores in the big chair. He’s that beloved.
Bill Belichick
If Flores is the most likely theoretical O’Connell successor, Belichick is on the opposite end of the spectrum. In short, he’s old. He’ll be 75 when the 2027 regular season rolls around.
Yet, his resume – – GOAT? – – is inarguable. He is currently coaching at North Carolina and signed a five-year deal there, so prying him back to the NFL would require mutual interest and big money.
Still, few coaching candidates could match resumesumé: six Super Bowl victories as New England’s head coach and personnel experience. If the Wilfs wanted instant credibility and authority, Belichick would supply both with the snap of two fingers.
Grant Udinski
Here, the Vikings would swap quarterback whisperers. Udinski would be the upside play of all four Plan Bs.
The former Vikings assistant is 30, and Jacksonville’s offense exploded in his first season as offensive coordinator, setting franchise records for points, touchdowns, and first downs while Trevor Lawrence produced a career year.
Udinski already interviewed for head coaching jobs with Cleveland and Buffalo this offseason, so the league views him as more than a future HC candidate. Minnesota also knows him from his time working under O’Connell, which reduces some uncertainty about fit and philosophy.
Lawrence said of Udinski earlier this year, “He’s a huge piece to this puzzle.”
Udinski’s boss, head coach Liam Coen, added, “There’s no doubt in my mind those guys will be head coaches. To get them back for the continuity and communication, for our guys and for our staff to our players, was big.”
Suppose the Vikings want to stay offense-first and preserve elements of their existing system. Udinski makes sense. He’s an up-and-comer.
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VikesNow Verdict: Minnesota would obviously prefer another successful O’Connell season, but a collapse would not leave the franchise without alternatives. Tomlin, Flores, Belichick, and Udinski represent four dramatically different paths if ownership ever decides a coaching reset is necessary. All are decent or better. Many, many Plan Bs.
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