Josh Metellus’ Recent Comments Should Have Vikings Fans Fired Up for 2026

Everyone and their mother expects Josh Metellus and the Vikings to have a pretty good defense this year. I’d have to agree, though I could see there maybe being a small step backwards from last year.

It’s not that I don’t like the makeup of the defense, but it’s just following logic. Everyone loved to give Jonathan Greenard grief for his measley two-sack 2025 campaign, but the dude was one of the league’s best pressure generators and created a lot of sacks for other defenders. I’m not saying I don’t believe in Dallas Turner, as I really do. But Greenard is undoubtedly a loss.

Then we take into consideration the youth movement. Currently, there is no Harrison Smith on the Vikings’ defense since 2011. He may not be the spring chicken he was back when I was 12 years old, but his on-field coaching and leadership abilities are worth more than any amount of money that the Vikings could pay him. Additionally, the interior defensive line is really young. I’m not saying that those names can’t at least recreate the middling season that Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave put together as a duo in 2025. However, they’re very young, and there will be mistakes.

Either way, I’m still a fan at the end of the day. It doesn’t take much to get this guy bought in, especially with some recent words from the aforementioned Josh Metellus.

Josh Metellus Feels ‘Amazing’ About the Vikings’ Defense This Year

After practice on Monday, Josh Metellus was asked by a reporter how he feels about the Vikings’ defense heading into 2026.

“I feel amazing, man,” Metellus began. “I think, for one, we’re deep, you know, which is always nice to see. You go out and you see the guys coming in are even hungrier than you. Those guys that we got in the second, third [rounds], they want to play, you know? They’re coming.”

If there’s one thing we know about Brian Flores’ defenses, it’s that they’re hungry, at least by the modern NFL’s standards. To hear that some of these kids are coming out to practice and don’t need to be taught to be hungry is very encouraging. Something tells me that Charles Demmings may be included in that analysis of the defense’s hunger level by Metellus.

Metellus continued: “It’s definitely fun to see things coming to fruition and see the guys start to gel and the chemistry build. The things we’ve been able to do in this defense are only getting better. So yeah, I’m excited to get some new blood in here and go attack this week.”

You Don’t Gotta Tell Me Twice, Josh Metellus!

Guys, I think we should believe him.

If you’re telling me that we’re getting an even hungrier defense out of Brian Flores this year, then I solemnly swear not to move a centimeter from my couch every Sunday while the Vikings are on. While Minnesota’s run defense is a bit suspect, the passing defense literally can’t get much better than it was last season.

Maybe I’m biased, but I’m choosing to buy what Josh Metellus is selling us, and I’m fired up about my investment.