Vikings complete interview with Mike Pettine

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The Vikings have completed an interview with their assistant head coach, Mike Pettine, for the defensive coordinator opening, the team announced.

The Vikings are seeking a replacement for Ed Donatell, who they fired Thursday.

The Minnesota defense was one of the worst in franchise history finishing the season ranked 28th in points allowed (25.1) and 31st in yards allowed (388.7).

The Vikings interviewed Saints co-defensive coordinator/defensive line coach Ryan Nielsen on Monday and Seahawks associate head coach/defense Sean Desai on Tuesday. They are scheduled to interview Steelers senior defensive assistant Brian Flores on Thursday.

Pettine joined Kevin O’Connell’s staff in Minnesota last February. He spent the 2021 season working in Chicago and was the Packers defensive coordinator from 2018-20.

In 2014-15, Pettine was head coach of the Browns and went 10-22.

19 responses to “Vikings complete interview with Mike Pettine

  1. The Vikings are desperate for more players and coaches with experience being part of the Packers.

  2. As much as the Packers need to move on from Aaron Rodgers, the Vikings need to move on from ex-Packer players and coaches.

  3. Every body seems to be looking for young, innovative offensive minds for their head coach but not young, innovative minds for their DC’s. I don’t follow every team so maybe I’m mistaken but I’d like the Vikings to bring in a coach who’s got something new on D. Tired of the same old retreads running the same scheme. If they want some one around who has “experience” hire them as consultants.

  4. I am no fan of Pettine but isn’t the objective of the new hire to improve the defense? Hiring ex Packers hasn’t worked out well on the player side, why do it with ex coaches?

  5. Mike is a good coach. There are no new ways to coach defense. Experience is best. Experienced DCs will usually make the correct adjustments. That’s what you are looking for from a defense. Making in game adjustments.

  6. Say what? Are they nuts? Just look at his record in GB. Nuff said. Lions are saying, you go man!

  7. mainewoodchopper says:
    January 26, 2023 at 8:30 am

    Mike is a good coach. There are no new ways to coach defense. Experience is best. Experienced DCs will usually make the correct adjustments. That’s what you are looking for from a defense. Making in game adjustments.
    _________

    Ed Donatell has been coaching since the leather helmet days and he never made any adjustments. If you want to defend against new innovative offenses, you need someone who can understand them. Experience for experience sake means nothing.

  8. mainewoodchopper says:
    January 26, 2023 at 8:30 am
    Mike is a good coach. There are no new ways to coach defense. Experience is best. Experienced DCs will usually make the correct adjustments. That’s what you are looking for from a defense. Making in game adjustments.
    //////
    And “Mike” was already on staff. And none of what you just said happened last year, with the “experience”.

  9. mainewoodchopper says:
    January 26, 2023 at 8:30 am
    Mike is a good coach. There are no new ways to coach defense. Experience is best. ///////
    Imagine saying half of what you said, during an interview.
    “Hey, ummmm……I have a lot of experience, and there isn’t any new ways to coach defense”.

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