The Minnesota Vikings are expected to part ways with defensive coordinator George Edwards.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter was the first to report that Edwards isn’t expected back, with Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio later reporting that it’s a stone-cold fact that Edwards will not be returning to the Vikings.
Vikings’ defensive coordinator George Edwards is not expected to return to Minnesota for next season, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 13, 2020
Edwards has been the defensive coordinator since 2014, coming to Minnesota the same season Mike Zimmer did. While Edwards holds the defensive coordinator title, it’s Zimmer who calls the plays and really runs the defense.
Edwards was in the last year of his contract and Courtney Cronin, who covers the Vikings for ESPN, says it would “make sense” if Zimmer’s son, linebackers coach Adam Zimmer, gets a chance to become the defensive coordinator. She also mentioned defensive line coach Andre Patterson as a candidate for a promotion.
The departure of Edwards coupled with Kevin Stefanski being hired as head coach of the Cleveland Browns means the Vikings now have to fill both the offensive and defensive coordinator positions.
