Minnesota Vikings: 3 Candidates for vacant defensive coordinator position

2. Andre Patterson

Another option that the Minnesota Vikings could consider as a candidate to fill their vacant position as defensive coordinator could be current Vikings coach Andre Patterson. Patterson, who just wrapped up his eighth season as a coach in Minnesota, has primarily been in charge of the defensive line for the Vikings as their defensive line coach.

The 59-year old has a total of 37 years of coaching experience in his career, 16 of which have come in the NFL. He has coached at the high school level, as well as the college level for 15 years and the professional level now for 16 seasons.

One interesting aspect to Patterson is that Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer and he used to work together on two different coaching staffs, which could mean that Zimmer would be more likely to elevate Patterson to the defensive coordinator position based on their familiarity with each other.

Patterson and Zimmer previously worked together on the defensive coaching staff with the Dallas Cowboys from 2000-02, while also serving together as assistants at Weber State in 1988.

Patterson has done a nice job with the Vikings’ defensive line during his time in his current position with the team, has led one of the more dominant portions of the Minnesota defense throughout his time with the purple and gold.

The mix of Patterson’s success during his tenure with the Vikings, his likability with the players and the organization as a whole and his familiarity with Zimmer and the rest of the coaching staff could lead the veteran coach to being elevated to take over as defensive coordinator for at least the 2020 campaign.