The 2026 season is the Minnesota Vikings' 66th in the National Football League (NFL), their 11th playing their home games at U.S. Bank Stadium, their 22nd under the ownership of Zygi Wilf, their fifth under head coach Kevin O'Connell, and their first under new general manager Nolan Teasley. Executive vice president of football operations Rob Brzezinski served as the team's interim general manager through the 2026 NFL draft. The Vikings will hope to improve upon their 9–8 record from the previous season, return to the playoffs after a one-year absence, and end their three-year NFC North title drought.
In the offseason, fullback C. J. Ham announced his retirement after 10 seasons, all spent with the team. Safety Harrison Smith was also released after 14 seasons with the team, but signed a new contract a week before the start of the regular season.
The Vikings opened the season to a 4–0 start despite not scoring a touchdown in two of their first four games, thus becoming the first team to accomplish this feat since the 1934 Detroit Lions.
Offseason Staff + 2026 Minnesota Vikings coaching staff changesPositionPrevious incumbentVacancy reasonReplacement(s)Source(s)Defensive coordinatorBrian Flores, 2023–presentContract extendedGeneral managerKwesi Adofo-Mensah, 2022–2025FiredNolan TeasleyDefensive backs coachDaronte Jones, 2022–2025Hired by the Washington CommandersGerald AlexanderOffensive line coachChris Kuper, 2022–2025Contract expiredKeith CarterAssistant head coachMike Pettine, 2022–2025RetiredFrank SmithDefensive running game coordinatorRyan NielsenFootball administration consultantMatt ThomasAssistant offensive line coachKeith Carter, 2025Promoted to offensive line coachDerek WarehimeTight ends coachBrian Angelichio, 2022–2025Hired by the Pittsburgh SteelersRyan CordellOffensive passing game coordinatorJosh McCownAssistant wide receivers coachTony Sorrentino, 2022–2025Hired by the Arizona CardinalsDerron MontgomeryAssistant defensive line coachImarjaye Albury Sr., 2020–2025Hired by Texas TechPatrick HillPassing game specialistRyan Cordell, 2022–2025Promoted to tight ends coachJordan TraylorOffensive quality controlDerron Montgomery, 2022–2025Promoted to assistant wide receivers coachKyle CaskeyAssistant special teams coachDalmin Gibson, 2023–2025Promoted to assistant linebackers coachChili DavisAssistant offensive coordinatorJordan Traylor, 2025Promoted to assistant quarterbacks coach/passing game specialistChris O'HaraDefensive assistantWill JohnsonAssistant defensive backs coachChenzo FunariAssistant linebackers coachDalmin GibsonSenior defensive assistantMike SiravoAssistant general managerRyan Grigson, 2022–2025ReplacedAndrew HealyDemitrius Washington, 2022–2025ReplacedTrent KirchnerDirector of football strategyTyler HamblinFootball advisorRyan PaceAssistant director of pro scoutingAzzaam Kapadia
Futures contracts Position Player Date signed Source WR Dontae Fleming January 5 S Kahlef Hailassie LB Josh Ross G Vershon Lee T Caleb Etienne WR Joaquin Davis WR Jeshaun Jones TE Bryson Nesbit DL Jaylon Hutchings January 7 LB Jacob Roberts
Free agents Position Player Free agencytag 2026 team Date Notes Source LB Eric Wilson UFA Minnesota Vikings March 9 3 years, $22.5 million OLB Bo Richter ERFA Minnesota Vikings 1 year, $1.075 million RB Zavier Scott ERFA Minnesota Vikings 1 year, $1.005 million LS Andrew DePaola UFA Minnesota Vikings March 10 1 years, $1.725 million S Tavierre Thomas UFA Minnesota Vikings March 11 2 years, $4.6 million P Ryan Wright UFA New Orleans Saints March 11 4 years, $14 million WR Jalen Nailor UFA Las Vegas Raiders March 12 3 years, $35.03 million TE Ben Sims RFA Miami Dolphins March 16 1 year, $1.3325 million RB Ty Chandler UFA New Orleans Saints March 17 1 year, $1.215 million QB Carson Wentz UFA Minnesota Vikings March 19 1 year, $3 million T Justin Skule UFA Tampa Bay Buccaneers April 6 DL Jalen Redmond ERFA Minnesota Vikings April 14 1 year, $1.075 million LB Ivan Pace Jr. RFA Minnesota Vikings April 20 1 year, $3.52 million CB Fabian Moreau UFA Washington Commanders August 4 1 year, $1.45 million QB Brett Rypien UFA Houston Texans August 15 1 year, $1.3 million T Matt Nelson UFA CB Jeff Okudah UFA QB John Wolford UFA
Signings Position Player Free agencytag Former team Date signed Notes Source CB James Pierre UFA Pittsburgh Steelers March 12 2 years, $8.5 million QB Kyler Murray UFA Arizona Cardinals March 12 1 year, $1.3 million P Johnny Hekker UFA Tennessee Titans March 17 1 year, $1.4875 million OL Ryan Van Demark RFA Buffalo Bills March 20 1 year, $4.2 million DL Eric Johnson UFA Indianapolis Colts April 29 1 year, $1.4025 million WR Jauan Jennings UFA San Francisco 49ers May 7 1 year, $8 million DL Isaiahh Loudermilk UFA Pittsburgh Steelers May 21 1 year, $1.125 million LB Jamal Adams UFA Las Vegas Raiders July 28 1 year, $1.41 million
Releases/retirements Position Player New team Date released/retired Source CB Tyrek Funderburk Carolina Panthers January 12 DE Jonathan Harris Minnesota Vikings RB Sincere McCormick San Francisco 49ers LB Gabriel Murphy OT Max Pircher Houston Texans LB Sione Takitaki Houston Texans FB C. J. Ham Retired February 5 C Ryan Kelly Retired March 6 DL Jonathan Allen Cincinnati Bengals March 11 DL Javon Hargrave Green Bay Packers S Harrison Smith Minnesota Vikings
Trades Position Player Team Date traded Notes Source OLB Jonathan Greenard Philadelphia Eagles April 24 MIN receives: 2026 third-round pick, 2027 third-round pickPHI receives: 2026 seventh-round pick, Greenard T Walter Rouse New England Patriots August 30 MIN receives: 2027 sixth-round pickNE receives: 2027 seventh-round pick, Rouse QB J. J. McCarthy New York Giants September 28 MIN receives: 2027 fifth-round pickNYG receives: McCarthy
Draft Having finished with a 9–8 record in 2025, equal with the Detroit Lions, the Vikings had the 18th overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft and alternated with the Lions in each subsequent round. They were scheduled to go into the draft with nine selections, their most since the 2022 draft. As well as their original first-, second-, third- and seventh-round picks, they were also awarded an additional third-round pick in compensation for the loss of QB Sam Darnold. They acquired an additional sixth-round selection in a trade that sent DT Harrison Phillips to the New York Jets, in conjunction with a late-round pick swap in 2027; that sixth-round pick was later sent to the Philadelphia Eagles along with QB Sam Howell in exchange for an additional fifth-round selection. They acquired another sixth-round selection in a trade that sent CB Mekhi Blackmon to the Indianapolis Colts.
The Vikings originally traded away their fifth-round pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars in exchange for OT Cam Robinson and an additional seventh-round pick; the trade contained conditions that the fifth-round pick would be upgraded to a fourth-round pick and the seventh-round pick would be annulled based on Robinson meeting a playing time threshold, which he did. Having regained their original fifth-round pick, the Vikings then traded it away to the Carolina Panthers in exchange for WR Adam Thielen and an additional seventh-round selection, as well as swapping mid-round picks in 2027. The Vikings' original sixth-round pick was first sent to the Houston Texans as part of a trade for RB Cam Akers that also gave the Vikings an additional seventh-round pick; the Texans then traded that same sixth-round pick back to the Vikings in exchange for G Ed Ingram, before the Vikings again traded the pick away to the San Francisco 49ers (along with a 2025 fifth-round selection) for RB Jordan Mason.
With their first-round pick, the Vikings selected Florida Gators defensive lineman Caleb Banks.
+ 2026 Minnesota Vikings draft selections Round Selection Player Position College Notes 1 18 Caleb Banks DL Florida 2 49 Traded to the Carolina Panthers 51 Jake Golday LB Cincinnati From Panthers 3 82 Domonique Orange DL Iowa State 97 Caleb Tiernan OT Northwestern Compensatory selection 98 Jakobe Thomas S Miami (FL) From Eagles 4 117 Traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars 5 158 Traded to the Carolina Panthers 159 Max Bredeson FB Michigan From Panthers 163 Charles Demmings CB Stephen F. Austin From Eagles 6 196 Traded to the Carolina Panthers From Colts 198 Demond Claiborne RB Wake Forest From Vikings via Texans, 49ers and Patriots 211 Traded to the Philadelphia Eagles From Broncos via Jets 7 234 Traded to the New England Patriots 235 Gavin Gerhardt C Cincinnati From Panthers 244 Traded to the Philadelphia Eagles From Texans
+ 2026 Minnesota Vikings undrafted free agents Name Position College Ref. Marcus Allen CB North Carolina Da'Veawn Armstead CB North Texas Dillon Bell WR Georgia Jordan Botelho OLB Notre Dame Tyreek Chappell CB Texas A&M Terrill Davis WR Oklahoma State Monkell Goodwine DL South Carolina Bangally Kamara LB Kansas Shaleak Knotts WR Maryland Keli Lawson LB UCF Tristan Leigh OL Clemson Delby Lemieux OL Dartmouth Kejon Owens RB FIU Tomas Rimac OL Virginia Tech Marcus Sanders Jr. WR Georgia Southern Cam'Ron Stewart OLB Temple Jacob Thomas S James Madison Brett Thorson P Georgia Smith Vilbert DL North Carolina Arden Walker OLB Colorado Lyke Wysong WR Arizona Note: Texas A&M linebacker Scooby Williams agreed to terms, but he failed his physical and did not sign.
Draft trades
Staff
Current roster
Preseason Schedule The Vikings' preseason opponents and schedule were announced on May 14, 2026, in conjunction with the release of the regular season schedule.
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 at New York Giants W 13–10 1–0 MetLife Stadium Recap 2 Baltimore Ravens L 3–13 1–1 U.S. Bank Stadium Recap 3 at Denver Broncos L 6–34 1–2 Empower Field at Mile High Recap
Game summaries Week 1: at New York Giants
Week 2: vs. Baltimore Ravens
Week 3: at Denver Broncos
Regular season Schedule On May 13, the NFL announced that the Vikings will play the San Francisco 49ers at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, Mexico, on November 22, as part of the league's International Series. The game will kick off at 7:20 p.m. CST, televised by NBC, with the 49ers serving as the home team.
The remainder of the Vikings' 2026 schedule was announced on May 14. They will play nine games at home and eight on the road. In addition to home and away matchups against each of their NFC North divisional rivals, they will play against each of the teams in the NFC South and AFC East, as well as the teams that also finished in third place in each of the NFC East, NFC West and AFC South.
Week Date Time () Opponent Result Record Venue Network Recap 1 September 13 3:25 p.m. Green Bay Packers W 39–22 1–0 U.S. Bank Stadium CBS Recap 2 September 20 12:00 p.m. at Chicago Bears W 9–3 2–0 Soldier Field Fox Recap 3 September 27 3:05 p.m. at Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 23–16 3–0 Raymond James Stadium Fox Recap 4 October 4 3:05 p.m. Miami Dolphins W 15–10 4–0 U.S. Bank Stadium Fox Recap 5 October 11 12:00 p.m. at New Orleans Saints Caesars Superdome Fox 6 Bye 7 October 25 12:00 p.m. Indianapolis Colts U.S. Bank Stadium CBS 8 November 1 12:00 p.m. at Detroit Lions Ford Field Fox 9 7:15 p.m. Buffalo Bills U.S. Bank Stadium ESPN 10 November 15 12:00 p.m. at Green Bay Packers Lambeau Field Fox 11 November 22 7:20 p.m. at San Francisco 49ers Estadio Azteca NBC 12 November 29 12:00 p.m. Atlanta Falcons U.S. Bank Stadium Fox 13 December 6 3:25 p.m. Carolina Panthers U.S. Bank Stadium CBS 14 7:15 p.m. at New England Patriots Gillette Stadium Prime Video 15 December 20 7:20 p.m. Detroit Lions U.S. Bank Stadium NBC 16 December 26/27 Washington Commanders U.S. Bank Stadium 17 January 3 12:00 p.m. at New York Jets MetLife Stadium CBS 18 January 9/10 Chicago Bears U.S. Bank Stadium Notes Intra-division opponents are in bold text. Networks and times from Weeks 5–17 and dates from Weeks 12–17 are subject to change as a result of flexible scheduling; games in Weeks 9 and 11 are exempt.