Marcus Dixon will coach the defensive line for the Vikings starting in 2024. Chris Rumph, who served in that capacity for the previous two seasons, is replaced. After taking a sabbatical from coaching last season, Rumph just agreed to become the defensive ends coach at Clemson.
The last two seasons, Dixon, 39, has served as the Broncos’ defensive line coach. Prior to that, he served as the 2021 Rams’ assistant defensive line coach, sharing a staff with current Vikings coaches Kevin O’Connell and Wes Phillips.
The team won the Super Bowl. After starting his coaching career at his alma mater, Hampton University, Dixon was selected undrafted in 2008 and played defensive end in 22 games for the Jets between 2010 and 2012 (as O’Connell’s teammate).
This offseason, the Vikings will undoubtedly add to a defensive tackle room that consists of Harrison Phillips, Dean Lowry, Khyiris Tonga, and Jaquelin Roy. Jonathan Bullard, Sheldon Day, and James Lynch are unrestricted free agents.
This offseason, the Vikings will undoubtedly add to a defensive tackle room that consists of, Dean Lowry, Khyiris Tonga, and Jaquelin Roy. Jonathan Bullard, Sheldon Day, and James Lynch are unrestricted free agents.
This offseason, the Vikings will undoubtedly add to a defensive tackle room that consists of Harrison Phillips, Dean Lowry, Khyiris Tonga, and Jaquelin Roy. Jonathan Bullard, Sheldon Day, and James Lynch are unrestricted free agents.
Harrison Phillips
The Vikings have also added “outside linebackers coach” to assistant head coach Mike Pettine’s job title. That signifies that former OLB coach Mike Smith, who took a leave of absence for the entirety of the 2023 season, will not be back.
Pettine, 57, has over 30 years of coaching experience and is entering his third year on O’Connell’s staff. He coached OLBs with the Ravens from 2005-08 before spending four years as the Jets’ defensive coordinator and one as the Bills’ DC.
He was then the Browns’ head coach for two seasons (2014-15) and was later the Packers’ DC from 2018-20. It’ll be interesting to see what the Vikings’ OLB room looks like in 2024. Danielle Hunter, D.J. Wonnum, and Marcus Davenport are all free agents, leaving Pat Jones II and Andre Carter II as the only players at that position currently under contract.