Inside The Vikings

Vikings Promote Assistant Coach to Fill Key Vacancy, Lose Another

Ryan Cordell is reportedly being promoted in Minnesota, while Tony Sorrentino earned a promotion elsewhere.
Will Ragatz|
Jan 13, 2025; Glendale, AZ, USA; Minnesota Vikings assistant wide receivers coach Tony Sorrentino against the Los Angeles Rams during an NFC wild card game at State Farm Stadium.
Jan 13, 2025; Glendale, AZ, USA; Minnesota Vikings assistant wide receivers coach Tony Sorrentino against the Los Angeles Rams during an NFC wild card game at State Farm Stadium. | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

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Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings have reportedly promoted from within to fill an important role on their coaching staff. They've also lost an assistant position coach to a promotion elsewhere. Here's everything you need to know on both fronts.

Vikings promoting Cordell

The Vikings are promoting game management coordinator and pass game specialist Ryan Cordell to serve as their tight ends coach, according to CBS Sports' Matt Zenitz. He replaces Brian Angelichio, who was hired as the Steelers' offensive coordinator under Mike McCarthy last week.

Cordell has been with the Vikings for the entire Kevin O'Connell era. He's helped KOC with in-game decisions like timeouts, fourth downs, challenges, and more. He's also played a big role in preparing the team to be "situational masters" by leading a weekly meeting that focuses on various situational decisions that could arise during games.

Cordell has handled a variety of other roles as well, including working with the team's tight ends. Now that'll be his primary focus moving forward. The Vikings have a strong tight end room led by T.J. Hockenson and Josh Oliver, although there's a chance Hockenson could be a cap casualty this offseason, which would make TE a major need for Minnesota.

Prior to joining the Vikings, Cordell worked for the Browns for three seasons and for the 49ers for five. He's a Notre Dame graduate.

Cardinals hire Sorrentino

The Vikings have lost assistant wide receivers coach Tony Sorrentino, who was hired to be the Cardinals' wide receivers coach under new head coach Mike LaFleur.

Sorrentino has worked closely with Keenan McCardell and the Vikings' receivers over the past four years, playing a role in the development of players like Jordan Addison and Jalen Nailor. Before joining O'Connell's staff, he worked as an assistant at a variety of college programs (including the University of Minnesota) and with the Jaguars. In Arizona, he'll hold his first position coach role in the NFL.

Here's what the Vikings' coaching staff looks like:

Offense

  • Head coach: Kevin O'Connell
  • Offensive coordinator: Wes Phillips
  • Assistant head coach: Frank Smith (NEW)
  • Quarterbacks: Josh McCown
  • Assistant QBs/assistant OC: Jordan Traylor
  • Offensive line: Keith Carter (PROMOTED)
  • Tight ends: Ryan Cordell (PROMOTED)
  • Wide receivers: Keenan McCardell
  • Running backs/run game coordinator: Curtis Modkins
  • Senior offensive assistant: Chris O'Hara
  • Offensive assistant: Ben Ellefson
  • Offensive quality control: Derron Montgomery
  • Assistant to the head coach: Henry Schneider IV

Defense and special teams

  • Defensive coordinator: Brian Flores
  • Special teams coordinator: Matt Daniels
  • Assistant special teams: Dalmin Gibson
  • Defensive backs/passing game coordinator: Gerald Alexander (NEW)
  • Inside linebackers: Mike Siravo
  • Outside linebackers: Thad Bogardus
  • Assistant OLBs: Patrick Hill
  • Defensive line/run game coordinator: Ryan Nielsen (NEW)
  • Assistant DL: Imarjaye Albury
  • Defensive assistant: Charlie Frye
  • Defensive quality control: Chenzo Funari

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Will Ragatz
WILL RAGATZ

Will Ragatz is a senior writer for Vikings On SI, who also covers the Twins, Timberwolves, Gophers, and other Minnesota teams. He is a credentialed Minnesota Vikings beat reporter, covering the team extensively at practices, games and throughout the NFL draft and free agency period. Ragatz attended Northwestern University, where he studied at the prestigious Medill School of Journalism. During his time as a student, he covered Northwestern Wildcats football and basketball for SB Nation’s Inside NU, eventually serving as co-editor-in-chief in his junior year. In the fall of 2018, Will interned in Sports Illustrated’s newsroom in New York City, where he wrote articles on Major League Baseball, college football, and college basketball for SI.com.

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