Vikings Turn to Wide-Zone Football as Frank Smith Joins O’Connell’s Staff Ahead of Packers Opener

Minnesota enters its Week 1 matchup against Green Bay looking to open a season with a win for the fourth time in five years under head coach Kevin O’Connell. The matchup carries extra weight given the result of the clubs’ most recent meeting, a 23-6 Packers victory.

Internally, expectations are elevated, but many of the franchise’s biggest offseason moves remain unproven. A divisional opener offers an immediate test of whether those bets translate onto the field — or whether early warning signs emerge.

A New Voice for the Run Game

The most notable schematic storyline centers on Frank Smith, the former Miami Dolphins offensive coordinator hired as assistant head coach. Smith brings deep experience with wide-zone run concepts, and reporting from ESPN’s Dan Graziano suggests Minnesota intends to lean into that background.

“Expect the Vikings to implement more wide-zone concepts this season as they work to make their running game a more reliable and integral part of their offense,” Graziano wrote.

The shift would extend a trend that began late last season. Minnesota ran the ball more than it passed in four of its final five games in 2025, a stretch in which it did not lose. Building on that finish appears to be an organizational priority, and Smith’s hiring signals a renewed commitment to balancing the offense through the ground game.

The Vikings also added to their offensive personnel, drafting fullback Max Bredeson and signing wide receiver Jauan Jennings, moves that complement the revised run-first direction.

Broadcast and Media Angle

The Week 1 spotlight also lands on the media side of the sports business. ESPN, the network whose reporting drove much of the coverage of Minnesota’s scheme change, is a property of The Walt Disney Company. Disney (DIS) traded at $105.82 in recent activity, up 1.57% from a prior close of $104.18, with a market capitalization of roughly $181.8 billion. Its entertainment portfolio spans the Sports segment alongside its broader film and television operations, making NFL season openers a recurring driver of audience interest across its platforms.

What to watch

• Whether Minnesota deploys wide-zone run concepts at a noticeably higher rate against Green Bay in Week 1.
• Usage of new additions Max Bredeson and Jauan Jennings in the revised offensive structure.
• Disney’s upcoming quarterly earnings, which will detail performance in its Sports segment as the NFL season ramps up.

Source: original release