Last week, reports surfaced that offensive line coach Chris Kuper would not be retained after his fourth season with the […]
Last week, reports surfaced that offensive line coach Chris Kuper would not be retained after his fourth season with the Vikings. Minnesota now has a key vacancy to fill. A prominent offensive line coach has suddenly become available.
Bill Callahan has joined Kevin Stefanski’s Falcons staff, which leaves longtime Atlanta offensive line coach Dwayne Ledford on the market and searching for a new opportunity.
Why the Vikings Should Be Interested in Dwayne Ledford
ESPN’s Mark Raimondi noted on social media this week, “The Falcons will not be retaining OL coach Dwayne Ledford, per a source. Ledford, highly regarded for his work in Atlanta, is expected to have multiple suitors for his services.”
That post gained even more traction when Falcons blocker Matthew Bergeron commented, “SMH,” short for “shaking my head”.
Ledford’s resume includes several stops in the college ranks, coaching offensive lines at various schools. His step to the NFL came in 2021, when the Falcons hired him as the OL coach. He held that job for five seasons. In 2024, the Falcons added the run game coordinator title to his job description.
Last season, the Falcons lost center Drew Dalman in free agency and right tackle Kaleb McGary to an injury in training camp. He missed the entire season. Instead of hiring expensive replacements or drafting highly, the Falcons relied on backups to fill the gaps. A meaningful dropoff was visible, but the crew still did an admirable job upfront, opening holes for Bijan Robinson and forming clean pockets for Kirk Cousins and Michael Penix.
Atlanta’s PFF grades along the offensive line since Ledford was hired in 2021:
- 2021: 27th
- 2022: 5th
- 2023: 4th
- 2024: 11th
- 2025: 14th
Several blockers made significant jumps under his watch. Guard Chris Lindstrom is considered one of the best in the business, having gone to four consecutive Pro Bowls and earning second-team All-Pro nods four straight times.
Dalman received a contract in free agency that pays him the third-most among centers. Jake Mathews and McGary have handled the tackle duties for years.
Backup center Ryan Neuzil was inserted into the starting lineup after Dalman’s exit and he did just fine, logging the sixth-best PFF grade among centers. Reserve right tackle Elijah Wilkinson, a veteran journeyman guard and tackle, played at an average level throughout the season.
Given the results in Minnesota with Justin Skule replacing Christian Darrisaw, average would be an upgrade. The Vikings clearly have talent up front, but the unit hasn’t consistently maximized that talent over the last several seasons, particularly when injuries or lineup changes forced depth players into meaningful roles.
Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill are Pro Bowl-caliber players, but injuries knocked them out of significant parts of the past season. Donovan Jackson, a 2025 first-rounder, was solid but needs the right coaching to challenge Lindstrom for All-Pro consideration at some point. Will Fries was signed for a ton of money last offseason, but the play didn’t match that investment.
Only the center position is an issue moving forward. Ryan Kelly’s future is in question after suffering three concussions in 2025. Blake Brandel and Michael Jurgens replaced him; it remains to be seen if they are viewed as viable successors should Kelly depart.
Either way, the Vikings need a new OL coach, and there’s a battle-tested candidate available with an excellent track record. He’ll be sought after, but the Vikings should pick up the phone.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.
