Minnesota Vikings Hire Controversial OL Coach

The Minnesota Vikings have more than a handful of questions they need to address this offseason, starting at quarterback, then trickling down from there. But one of the main focuses this offseason for general manager Kwesi Adofo Mensah and head coach Kevin O’Connell is on the interior of the offensive line, where the Vikings have struggled to find requisite answers for the better part of a decade.

This week, many of the Vikings’ top decision makers are in Indianapolis at the NFL Combine, where they hope to find an interior offensive lineman of the future in the upcoming NFL Draft, which will kick off on April 24. Within two weeks of the combine ending, free agency will begin (March 12). There, we can expect Minnesota to be active in the guard and center market.

Minnesota Vikings hire Keith Carter as assistant OL coach

But even before they’re able to load up on new talent to help in the offensive trenches for next season, the MN Vikings made their first move to improve in that department by hiring 2024 New York Jets OL coach, Keith Carter, as their assistant OL coach and running game coordinator.

The Vikings are hiring Keith Carter as assistant OL coach. Was OL coach and run game coordinator with Jets, and OL coach with Titans before that. Great knowledge of run game. Major part of shifting focus this offseason.

— Alec Lewis (@alec_lewis) February 25, 2025

Carter comes as a highly decorated OL coach in the NFL. He was part of the Seattle Seahawks staff in 2012 and 2013, when prime Marshawn Lynch was 1st team All-Pro and running all over opposing defenses. Great running back play has followed Carter pretty much everywhere he has been.

Where Keith Carter goes, great running backs follow…

After helping raise Lynch to greatness early on in his NFL coaching career, Keith Carter was hired as the Tennessee Titans offensive line coach in 2018, which also happens to be the first season Derrick Henry eclipsed 1,000 yards on the ground as an NFL back.

Carter went on to coach the Titans OL from 2018 to 2023. Prior to Carter arriving in Nashville, Henry had played 31 games in two seasons, maxing out at a total of 744 rushing yards and 5 touchdowns in 2017.

Related: Top Heisman Candidate Meeting with Vikings at NFL Combine

Outside of the 2021 season, when he played just 8 games due to injury, Henry never went for less than 1,100 yards and 12 TDs in a season, while Keith Carter coached Tennessee’s offensive line. Derrick Henry also led the NFL in rushing attempts, yards and touchdowns in both 2019 and 2020.

Derrick Henry is still King Henry.

Titans really need to figure out how to get him on the field more. Can't just have him playing 35% of the snapspic.twitter.com/Q1wCnJgifk

— Sam Monson (@SamMonsonNFL) October 1, 2023

But Carter’s hire as Minnesota Vikings assistant OL coach doesn’t come without controversy. There is a reason why an offensive line coach with such an incredible track record is settling for a demotion to assistant.

Keith Carter comes with skeletons in his NFL coaching closet…

When Keith Carter left the Titans, he landed with the New York Jets, as their OL coach. There, he helped Breece Hall rush for over 1,850 yards and ten touchdowns between the 2023 and 2024 seasons. But while in New York, rumors swirled surrounding Carter’s demeanor with Jets players.

Then, there is this January 9 Instagram post — from former NFL offensive lineman turned “Bussin with the Boys” host, Taylor Lewan, who played under Carter with the Titans — which gives quite a bit of negative insight into how some of the OL coach’s former players feel about him…

Still blown away Vrabes was fired this afternoon. Guy is a dudes dude who got players ready every week with a clear game plan. Loved him as a coach (except 2018) loved his coaching staff (besides Keith Carter) it was hard work but it was always worth it.

Taylor Lewan Instagram caption from post above (dated January 9, 2025)

How concerned are the MN Vikings about backlash regarding the hire of Keith Carter? Head coach Kevin O’Connell felt strongly enough about the situation that he felt obliged to address the hire on Tuesday, when he met with media at the NFL Combine.

Related: Newly Available DT Interested in Playing for Vikings…

“He’s a tough, kind of gritty guy. You’ll find some things about him in regards to being tough on his players. But I think in the No. 2 role, he’s gonna be really good for us, and he’s in a great spot in his career to really help us.”

Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell talking at NFL Combine about new OL asst coach, Keith Carter

After a one year stint as the OL coach and run game coordinator at Michigan State in 2014, Carter returned to the NFL as the Atlanta Falcons’ assistant OL coach in 2015 and 2016, before being named their running backs coach in 2017.

If KOC is right, and the Minnesota Vikings can make a soft landing/learning spot for Keith Carter to grow as a football coach, then this could prove to be one of the most impactful transactions of what promises to be a crucial offseason for the purple.