Minnesota Vikings Hand Out Another Extension

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Wes Phillips - Minnesota Vikings
Credit: Photo courtesy of the Minnesota Vikings

When it comes to making deals, no team in the NFL is superior to the Minnesota Vikings this offseason. And we aren’t just talking players. In fact, it was head coach Kevin O’Connell who got the first contract extension of the offseason, which came just a week or two after the Vikings’ 2025 season ended in a first round playoff loss.

Up in the front office, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah signed his own extension, before he gave his top confidants, Ryan Grigson and Demetrius Washington, promotions from vice presidents of player personnel to co-assistant GMs.

While there have been some coaching departures, the most notable being assistant QB coach and OC, Grant Udinsky, now offensive coordinator for the Jaguars. But for the most part, the 2024 Minnesota Vikings coaching staff remains in-tact entering 2025, something that was far from guaranteed three to five months ago.

The Minnesota Vikings have employed Wes Phillips as their offensive coordinator for the past four seasons, since Kevin O’Connell took over as head coach. But he’s been with KOC longer than that. In fact, Wes and Kevin first coached together in 2017.

Minnesota Vikings sign OC Wes Phillips to contract extension

That’s when O’Connell first joined the Washington Redskins staff, as QB coach under then OC Kyle Shanahan. Since meeting up in DC, however, Wes hasn’t left Kevin’s side. They went from Washington to LA (Rams), then Minnesota together.

And after Wes Phillips agreed to a contract extension with the Vikings late Friday night, it looks like the two friends will continue their coaching journeys together, into the foreseeable future. Wes was entering the final year of his previous deal, prior to inking this one.

“The deal they reached on Friday night secured one of O’Connell’s key confidants, who helps organize the team’s game plan during the week and provides a crucial voice for the coach as he calls plays on Sundays. Phillips turned down a job calling plays for the Chargers after the 2022 season, deciding to stay in Minnesota on O’Connell’s staff; he will work with the head coach and the Vikings’ offensive staff in 2025 as the team prepares 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy to take over as starting quarterback.”

Ben Goessling – Star Tribune

Ben Goessling (Star Tribune) broke the news on Wes Phillips’ extension late Friday night. But the “one of us” beat writer first reported Wes’ new deal as being imminent about two weeks ago, on his Access Vikings Podcast. There, he also noted that a Brian Flores extension is likely coming soon too.

Wes’ new contract ensures he stays with Minnesota beyond 2025, unless he receives an offer elsewhere that would promote him to either head coach or play-calling offensive coordinator. Phillips doesn’t call plays for the Vikings, because Kevin O’Connell does.

Phillips’ time with Vikings has been up and down

Just a couple of years ago, this new contract was far from guaranteed for Wes Phillips. With a bunch of young, up-and-coming offensive coaches around him, many wondered how exactly the 45-year-old (now 46) fit into the future of Minnesota’s coaching staff.

Then in December 2023, while the Vikings were still in the midst of KOC’s only non-playoff season as head coach, Phillips was arrested on DWI charges that he would eventually plead down to “Careless Driving”. Instead of firing him, Kevin O’Connell gave his friend another chance. One and a half years later, here we are.

Related: Minnesota Vikings Sign New O-Lineman, Cut Safety

This is arguably the most important season in recent memory for the Minnesota Vikings. Wes Phillips, QB coach Josh McCown and KOC are all tasked with getting the most out of new starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy. We’ll see if they can work some more magic on yet another different QB.

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