MN Vikings assistant head coach Mike Pettine is retiring

Before he got to those questions, however, the MN Vikings head coach made a couple of announcements. Among them was the retirement of assistant head coach and outside linebackers coach, Mike Pettine.

Pettine, 60, began in his current role as assistant head coach with the Minnesota Vikings back in 2022, as part of O’Connell’s rookie head coaching staff.

Vikings HC Kevin O'Connell says assistant HC Mike Pettine is going to be retiring.

— Alec Lewis (@alec_lewis) January 13, 2026

Mike’s NFL coaching journey started, however, twenty years earlier, in 2002, when hired as a “coaching assistant” in Baltimore by then-Ravens defensive coordinator, Rex Ryan.

Along the way, Mike Pettine made stops at eight different NFL organizations, reaching the pinnacle of the coaching world in 2014, when he was named head coach of the Browns.

As is customary most times in Cleveland, he was fired after two seasons in-charge.

Pettine’s retirement opens new title for Brian Flores?

Pettine isn’t young, but he isn’t over the hill necessarily, either. He did, however, hold a title within the Minnesota Vikings coaching staff that could help entice Brian Flores to re-sign on as their defensive coordinator.

Flores is interviewing with the Baltimore Ravens soon, for their vacant head coach position, something head coach Kevin O’Connell confirmed in his press conference Tuesday.

B-Flo is also receiving interest from the Washington Commanders and Dallas Cowboys, to be their defensive coordinator. Could this move have anything to do with trying to incentivize him to stay, should he not receive a head coaching opportunity?

Whether it has anything to do with B-Flo or not, Pettine’s retirement indeed makes the Vikings’ Assistant head coach title available to be filled. And I can’t see them filling it with anyone other than Brian Flores, should he choose to stay.

With J.J. McCarthy still sidelined by a concussion, the Vikings had to make some roster adjustments. Unfortunately, the inactives also extend to the coaching staff.

Sweeping changes for Minnesota Vikings against Seahawks

Once it looked became clear McCarthy might be out, Minnesota quickly signed John Wolford and Desmond Ridder. Wolford will serve as the backup on Sunday.

The #Vikings elevated John Wolford to the active roster for tomorrow’s game. He’ll be the backup to Max Brosmer. The team also elevated Dwight McGlothern from the practice squad, and announced outside linebackers coach Mike Pettine will not make the trip to Seattle to coach the…

— Ben Goessling (@BenGoessling) November 29, 2025

It’s not just the quarterbacks who are shuffled. Dwight McGlothern, a once-promising undrafted cornerback, was recently waived but quickly re-signed. He’ll now be active while Jeff Okudah remains sidelined with his own concussion.

Beyond the players, Vikings assistant head coach and linebackers coach Mike Pettine will also be absent in Seattle. No further details have been released, but the absence of a position coach is certainly noteworthy. Pettine previously served as a defensive coordinator for five seasons before becoming the Browns’ head coach in 2014 and 2015. He later worked as the Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator from 2018–2020 and has since taken on lesser roles.

Max Brosmer will be hoping for a win in his NFL debut, and he may have to do it with just three-fifths of the intended offensive line. Christian Darrisaw is questionable, and Donovan Jackson has already been ruled out. Despite Minnesota’s significant offseason investment in the offensive line, the group has been both injury-riddled and inconsistent.

The Vikings kick off in Seattle on Sunday at 3:05pm, searching for anything they can build on in what has otherwise been a difficult season.