Vikings secure key piece to support J.J. McCarthy, Kevin O’Connell for the upcoming 2025 NFL season

The upcoming NFL season will feature several tightly contested divisions — and one of the most competitive, without a doubt, is the NFC North. The Minnesota Vikings are betting on the talent of young quarterback J.J. McCarthy to lead them to a strong campaign, once again under the guidance of HC Kevin O’Connell. The good news for Minnesota is that they’ve secured a key piece of their roster for several more years, strengthening the team’s structure moving forward.

The individual in question isn’t a player on the roster, but rather offensive coordinator Wes Phillips — a key right-hand man to O’Connell on the coaching staff. According to the latest report, Phillips has signed a contract extension that will keep him with the team through the end of the 2026 season, barring any unforeseen changes.

The news was reported by Ben Goessling of the Star Tribune, who shared details of the move via his official X account (formerly Twitter). It’s a significant step by the Vikings as they continue to build for their immediate future.

“The #Vikings agreed to a contract extension with offensive coordinator Wes Phillips on Friday night, securing a key member of Kevin O’Connell’s coaching staff with a new deal,” he reported via @BenGoessling.

Offensive coordinator Wes Phillips of the Minnesota Vikings looks on before the game against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field on December 22, 2024 in Seattle, Washington.

It’s worth noting that Phillips first took on the role of offensive coordinator back in 2022, when Kevin O’Connell specifically chose him to join his staff with the Vikings.

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Brian Flores’ contract situation

The staff that supported Kevin O’Connell last season proved to be highly effective, helping the team put together a strong campaign — one that, unfortunately for them, fell just short of a Super Bowl appearance.

With Wes Phillips now confirmed as offensive coordinator for the upcoming NFL seasons, the next question is what will happen with Brian Flores, who has been serving as the Vikings’ defensive coordinator.

According to Goessling, Flores is also entering the final year of his contract and is reportedly still pursuing a second opportunity as a head coach. For now, there’s no indication that such an opportunity is imminent, meaning his stay in Minnesota remains intact — at least for the time being.