The Vikings are hiring Jordan Traylor as assistant offensive coordinator and assistant quarterbacks coach, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Traylor spent the last six seasons with the Saints. He started as a scouting assistant before moving into coaching as a defensive assistant in 2021. He switched to the offensive side of the ball in 2023 and has focused on tight ends over the last two years. Juwan Johnson and Foster Moreau made noticeable improvements during his tenure and finished 2024 as the team’s first- and third-leading receivers, respectively.
The Saints wanted to retain Traylor, according to Mike Triplett of New Orleans.Football, but he decided to take a promotion on Kevin O’Connell‘s staff. He will replace Grant Udinski, who left the Vikings last month to take the Jaguars’ offensive coordinator job.
Traylor played quarterback at Texas A&M before starting his coaching career with Texas (2016-2017) and Arkansas (2018). In Minnesota, he will be tasked with developing 2024 first-rounder J.J. McCarthy, a job that could be even more important if Sam Darnold isn’t retained.
In that case, the Vikings may look to re-sign Daniel Jones, who ended last season in Minnesota. Traylor would then have to continue Jones’ integration into the offense as a potential starter if McCarthy faces any setbacks in his recovery from last year’s knee injury.