Vikings Make Three Changes to Kevin O'Connell's Coaching Staff

The Vikings recently made three changes to Kevin O'Connell's coaching staff, including adding two new assistants to the defensive side of the ball under new coordinator Brian Flores.

Mike Siravo has been hired as Minnesota's inside linebackers coach, replacing Greg Manusky. Siravo, like Flores, is a Boston College alum, and he was actually a graduate assistant at BC during Flores' first two years as a player there. Siravo went on to coach for two decades at the college level, with stops at BC, Columbia, Temple, and Baylor, coaching linebackers and defensive backs.

In 2020, the Carolina Panthers hired Siravo as their linebackers coach and defensive run game coordinator, a position he held for three years. Now he replaces Manusky in Minnesota and will lead a position group that currently features veteran Eric Kendricks and Jordan Hicks and intriguing second-year player Brian Asamoah.

The Vikings have also added Lance Bennett as a defensive quality control coach. Steve Donatell, who held that role last year when his father, Ed, was the DC, seems unlikely to return, although he's still listed on the Vikings' website. Bennett was the assistant to the head coach during Flores' three years with the Dolphins, essentially serving as his right-hand man. The two go way back, as they were high school teammates in Brooklyn, NY.

Lastly, Grant Udinski is replacing Jerrod Johnson as the Vikings' assistant quarterbacks coach. He was hired by O'Connell last year and spent the 2022 season as the assistant to the head coach/special projects.

The Vikings still have vacancies to fill at assistant special teams coordinator and assistant defensive line coach.

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