A fix for the Vikings’ offensive line might be just across the border in Green Bay.
According to long time Packers beat writer Bob McGinn, the Packers have granted the Vikings permission to interview Joe Philbin as their potential 2019 offensive line coach.
McGinn says the Vikings are in search of a permanent replacement for Tony Sparano, whose death in July shocked the team just two days before the beginning of training camp.
“Quite honestly, the death of Tony Sparano really kind of threw things into a little bit of a downward spiral, only because this guy was a type-A personality,” Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer said in his season-ending press conference.
“He was very innovative in the running game. He had a strong voice in that room. He had a strong voice with me. Yes, I do feel like we lost a little bit of our identity.”
Philbin spent 2018 as Green Bay’s offensive coordinator for 12 games before taking over as interim head coach after Mike McCarthy was fired. He was also head coach of the Miami Dolphins from 2012-15, and prior to that spent nine seasons in different roles with the Packers.
Sparano’s death forced Zimmer to trust Clancy Barone and Andrew Janocko as co-offensive line coaches, and although he applauded the jobs they did he was clear that the team missed the toughness and leadership Sparano brought to the team.
As a former head coach, Philbin would undoubtedly be able to bring that type of leadership.
