Kirby Wilson hired by Minnesota Vikings as RBs coach
Minnesota Vikings helmet sits in the grass during training camp at Minnesota State University. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
When the Baltimore Ravens eliminated Kirby Wilson from their offensive coordinator search yesterday and turned their focus to Kyle Shanahan and internal candidate Jim Hostler instead, it looked like the Pittsburgh Steelers had dodged a bullet and would be able to hold onto their talented running backs coach, who did an impeccable job of working with talented rookie Le’Veon Bell. Wilson looked poised to become an offensive coordinator, and it would have been a crushing blow for the Steelers to lose a valuable position coach to their bitter rivals.
Well, the Steelers have lost Wilson after all, but at least he won’t be the offensive coordinator of a division rival. Instead, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Ed Bouchette reported yesterday that Wilson will be the Minnesota Vikings new running backs coach. Again, it’s a tough loss for the Steelers, but it’s definitely a huge gain for the Vikings. I mean, they were able to get a guy who could have been an offensive coordinator as their RBs coach.
Wilson will have the pleasure of working with the best running back in the game in Adrian Peterson, and he’ll also help take solid No. 2 back Toby Gerhart to the next level. The Vikings coaching staff looks excellent with defensive genius Mike Zimmer at head coach, Norv Turner as a strong offensive coordinator, and now Wilson as the team’s RBs coach. However, the question remains, can Rick Spielman find a franchise QB and can Turner develop him? And we won’t know that answer for a couple of years.