Vikings Hire Ex-NDSU Cornerbacks Coach Will Johnson as Defensive Assistant

Will Johnson joined the Minnesota Vikings as a defensive assistant, the team announced on Feb. 24, 2026, adding the former North Dakota State cornerbacks coach to Kevin O’Connell’s staff. The hire was part of a series of staff updates released by the Vikings that day and completed what the team described as a busy week of NFL hiring activity.

Johnson arrives after serving as North Dakota State’s cornerbacks coach, a role listed in the Vikings announcement that ties him directly to the FCS coaching ranks. His title with the Vikings is defensive assistant, placing him on Kevin O’Connell’s coaching staff in Minneapolis as the organization prepares for the 2026 offseason calendar and roster evaluations.

The February 24 staff update that included Johnson followed several other personnel moves around the league during the same week, moves which pulled college assistants into NFL roles and reshaped coaching staffs ahead of spring workouts. For the Vikings, the addition of a coach with recent FCS experience expands the staff’s access to college-level scouting insights and position-room development ahead of training camp.

Johnson’s hiring also underscores a continued NFL interest in coaches who have worked in the FCS ranks; North Dakota State has long been a coaching and player pipeline for professional football. By naming Johnson a defensive assistant, the Vikings gave him an entry point onto Kevin O’Connell’s staff at the professional level while keeping open the potential for role expansion based on performance and staff needs.

The Vikings announced the Johnson hire on Feb. 24, 2026 as part of a broader set of coaching updates. Johnson’s move from North Dakota State to the Minnesota sideline completes that wave of mid-February coaching additions and positions him to participate in the Vikings’ offseason programming under O’Connell’s direction.