Mike Vrabel has been occupied in the past week working to assemble his coaching staff, as many speculate who the team will choose for their offensive coordinator position.
As per Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, the Patriots have met with Grant Udinski, the offensive assistant and quarterbacks coach for the Minnesota Vikings, regarding the position.
The 28-year-old allegedly had an interview with the team on Monday, and he’s a noteworthy candidate. Udinski has progressed significantly throughout his career, having swiftly ascended the ranks in his short tenure in the league.
He has been an important contributor to Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell, who first brought him on board as an assistant to the head coach/special projects position in 2022. However, Udinski distinctly exceeded his responsibilities and O’Connell took notice, resulting in the young coach being given the title of “assistant offensive coordinator” prior to the 2024 season.
He has also encountered his fair share of challenges. He assisted the Vikings during Kirk Cousins’ last season in Minnesota, following the quarterback’s injury that ended his season in Week 8. This resulted in Udinski needing to train the players supporting Cousins, such as Nick Mullins, Joshua Dobbs, and rookie Jaren Hall during that season.
It seems he is prepared to move on to the next phase elsewhere, with the Seattle Seahawks reportedly one of the teams involved in the discussion. Udinski is said to be a finalist for that position, which could complicate the Patriots’ efforts to bring him onboard. Alec Lewis from the Athletic reported on Tuesday that Udinski has conducted two interviews this offseason for the position with the Seahawks, with one NFC staff member telling Lewis, “People speak highly of this guy.” Vikings quarterback Brett Rypien informed Lewis about Udinski: “Grant is a genius.” He is a genius.
The young coach was instrumental in nurturing the Vikings’ emerging group of quarterbacks. Minnesota rookie J.J. McCarthy mentioned in an excellent article by Ben Goessling of the Minnesota Star Tribune last November that one of the exceptional qualities that makes Udinski an outstanding coach is his ability to simplify complex concepts in the classroom.
“I believe that true intelligence and genuine wisdom reside in simplifying complex ideas,” McCarthy stated. “You wouldn’t realize he’s among the brightest in the room.” “That’s a quality I truly value in him.”
Another point that has also been noticeable is that it’s difficult to obtain much from him. Quarterbacks coach Josh McCown, who played in the NFL as a quarterback for nearly twenty years, noted that he found parallels between O’Connell and Udinski, and he feels that Udinski is destined for greatness.
“It brings back many memories of Kevin, when he was my quarterbacks coach [in 2015 with the Browns],” McCown remarked. “From his presence and intelligence, it was clear right away that he would make an excellent coach.” “That’s certainly the impression I get from Grant.”
Currently, the Patriots are still determining who will join Drake Maye on the sidelines next season. However, it’s evident that Udinski is an interesting prospect who will be worth following regardless of where he lands.
