Minnesota Vikings let OL coach Chris Kuper walk

[Kentis]

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MN Vikings Let Assistant Coach Walk
Eric StrackJan 17, 2026
  
The Minnesota Vikings hope to avoid a lot of turnover on their coaching staff in 2026. In a perfect world, they will roll into 2026 with Kevin O’Connell at head coach, Wes Phillips as their offensive coordinator and Brian Flores as defensive coordinator.

Of course, that future remains unknown, while Flores talks to teams around the league about coaching positions they have open for hire. After an incredibly difficult year on offense, however, there aren’t a lot of suitors trying to scavenge any of Minnesota’s assistants on that side of the football.

Minnesota Vikings let OL coach Chris Kuper walk

But there is at least one offensive coach who will not be returning in 2026. Chris Kuper has been the MN Vikings offensive line coach since O’Connell was hired back before the 2022 season.

But in week 18 against the Packers, Kuper coached his final game as the Vikings’ OL coach. On Saturday, news broke that Minnesota has decided not to renew the 45-year-old former Denver Broncos offensive lineman.

Chris Kuper was born in Anchorage, Alaska in December, 1982, where he lived until he graduated high school and left to play football at the University of North Dakota from 2002 to 2006.

After two straight All-American seasons at North Dakota (2005-2006), Kuper was selected in the 5th round of the 2006 NFL Draft by the Broncos. He went on to play 8 seasons in Denver, piling up 79 starts, before retiring after his age 31 season (2013).

Kuper’s NFL coaching resume

In 2015, Chris Kuper became the volunteer offensive line coach at infamous Columbine High School. After one season coaching kids, Kuper joined the Miami Dolphins as an offensive quality control coordinator.

Then in 2017, he was promoted to Dolphins’ assistant offensive line coach, a job he held for two seasons. In 2019, he rejoined the Denver Broncos as their assistant offensive line coach, a job he held through the 2021 season, when he was hired by the Minnesota Vikings.


It was Kuper’s first position coach job in the NFL. But now, after the Vikings’ offensive line dealt with injuries and underwhelming performances during most of 2025, he’s gone. And in 2026, KOC will have a new OL coach. 

https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/minne...n-vikings/

[Zanary]

I'm sure the Vikings will do at least as well with the next OL coach.

[IceRatz16]

Good move.  We need to figure out how to find a coach who knows how to coach and build up the offensive line.

[AGRforever]

I'm sure the Vikings will do at least as well with the next OL coach.

I’m sure they could hire chat gpt and do just as well.

[Canthony]

Bring in Mike McDaniel and the run game and oline are complete. Relieve some pressure off KOC.

[StickierBuns]

Meh. He's the offensive line coach. Not sure how Kuper had any control over all the offensive line injuries Minnesota had this last year. If it makes some fans feel better, great, but its not a needle moving coaching position. It would be unnoticeable whether he stays or leaves (cue the fans about to tell me how important the position is, lol)....you either have the horses or you don't and you need to stay healthy. That matters a ton more.

[Norse]

Good to see Kruper get the boot. Felt with him the offensive line has been underperforming.
Which brings up the question what does Wes Phillips actually bring to the table?

[JimmyinSD]

Meh. He's the offensive line coach. Not sure how Kuper had any control over all the offensive line injuries Minnesota had this last year. If it makes some fans feel better, great, but its not a needle moving coaching position. It would be unnoticeable whether he stays or leaves (cue the fans about to tell me how important the position is, lol)....you either have the horses or you don't and you need to stay healthy. That matters a ton more.

The mechanics of line play are very real,  as much so as a QB or other positions,   you have to have somebody constantly evaluating and correcting or you end with underperforming horses.  Weve seem many times where our players leave and suddenly improve,  or we've gotten players who were previously good and look like shit here.

You are right,  its easier with studs,  but you can still get serviceable level of play from lesser talent and we haven't beem seeing that.  Or maybe just a coach that isn't a yes man and will tell the OC/HC that its not his line,  its more likely the play calling or lack of defensive recognition by the QB.

Either way,  not expecting this to do much and the injuries were a very large part of the challenges this last season

[MaroonBells]

No big surprise here. Ezra Cleveland and Ed Ingram have gone on to have much more success with their new teams than they did for us. And there's also the fact that Rouse and Jurgens have failed to develop the way we might have hoped. They were late round picks, so not a glaring indictment of Kuper, but not a ringing endorsement either. I have no problem letting Kuper walk, as long as the guy we bring in is an upgrade, and that's anyone's guess.

[purplefaithful]

I figured the odds for release were best with the OL coach and ST coach too...Even with injuries, they are underperforming too often.

If we lose BFlo? Then the coaching changes will be wholesale dagnabbit.