Vikings Quietly Reshaped Their Offense This Offseason — and It Wasn’t at Quarterback

Most of the offseason conversation surrounding the Minnesota Vikings has centered on the quarterback position, but a less-heralded staffing move could prove just as consequential when the 2026 season begins Sunday against Green Bay.

According to ESPN’s Dan Graziano, the Vikings hired former Miami Dolphins offensive coordinator Frank Smith as assistant head coach with a specific mandate: overhaul the team’s rushing attack. Graziano reported that Minnesota intends to lean more heavily on wide-zone running concepts, aiming to make the ground game a steadier and more central component of head coach Kevin O’Connell’s offense.

Smith arrives with a notable resume. He served as Miami’s offensive coordinator across Mike McDaniel’s entire tenure as head coach, from 2022 through 2025, a stretch during which the Dolphins regularly fielded an effective running game — including a standout 2023 campaign.

Vikings running back Aaron Jones has already voiced approval of the new assistant head coach. Speaking with reporters, Jones described Smith as a “great football mind” who is detail-oriented and skilled at making sure all eleven players on the field understand the intent of each play. Minnesota’s backfield also features Jordan Mason, giving the club a rotation that lacks star power but has shown the ability to break off substantial gains.

The report originated with ESPN, the sports network under The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS). Disney shares closed the most recent session at $104.69, up 0.49% from a prior close of $104.18, with a market capitalization of roughly $181.8 billion. The company operates Entertainment, Sports, and Experiences segments, with ESPN remaining a key driver of its sports media business.

The timing of the schematic shift is notable. Minnesota opens the season against a division rival, and O’Connell’s staff has historically prioritized the run game even as the offense has been defined by its passing attack. Whether the wide-zone emphasis translates immediately — against a Green Bay defense that will be studying a revamped Minnesota operation — will be one of the early storylines of the NFL season.

Kickoff between the Vikings and Packers is set for 4:25 p.m. ET on September 13.

What to watch

• How heavily Minnesota leans on wide-zone run concepts in its Week 1 play-calling against Green Bay.
• The early production split between Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason in the backfield rotation.
• Whether Kyler Murray’s arrival as quarterback changes the offense’s run-pass balance over the first month of the season.
• Disney’s next quarterly earnings report, which will include updated results for ESPN and the broader Sports segment.

Source: original release