The 2025 Minnesota Vikings’ season is officially over. Nine wins, eight losses, and a whole bunch of “what-ifs.” There was some good and some bad, but overall, given last year’s performance and expectations, without a playoff berth, it’s impossible to call this campaign “successful.” Let’s say it was… passably enjoyable?

As we’re gearing up for the NFL honors and the traditional movie, television, and music awards season over the next few months, let me take a moment to present some of my personal awards for the Vikings’ season.

And the award goes to…

Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award: Will Reichard...

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Big announcement at the beginning of the show

Episode Notes:

• Here’s that ESPN piece on what went wrong with the Raiders
• We received a question about Dallas Turner, a player whom we broke down here.
• My piece on this week in Minneapolis

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In this episode of The Real Forno Show, hosted by Tyler Forness with producer Dave Stefano—a Vikings 1st & SKOL production—the duo breaks down the Minnesota Vikings’ critical offseason blueprint after a 9-8 season. Forness emphasizes the uncertainty around defensive coordinator Brian Flores, noting, “His contract expires on January 14th,” and speculates on teams waiting to avoid leverage issues amid his NFL lawsuit. They discuss potential offensive coaching shakeups, with Forness suggesting, “I would consider moving on from both Wes Phillips and Josh McCown,” highlighting the need for fresh ideas despite Phillips’ role in game planning. Key roster moves include...

While much of the focus for Minnesota Vikings fans at the start of this year’s NFL coaching carousel has been on the fate of defensive coordinator Brian Flores, a couple of teams have now requested interviews with the man thought by many to be the top in-house choice to be his successor should he not return to Minnesota.

According to numerous sources, both the New York Jets and the Dallas Cowboys have requested to interview defensive backs coach Daronte Jones for their vacancies at the defensive coordinator position.

Jones was the Vikings’ defensive backs coach in 2020, then departed to...

Even though he was not named to the Pro Bowl Games for reasons beyond the realm of my comprehension, Minnesota Vikings kicker Will Reichard did garner some recognition that no member of the franchise has gotten in quite a while.

It has just been announced that Reichard has been named the NFC’s Special Teams Player of the Month for the final month of the 2025 NFL season. He is the first member of the Vikings to receive the award since Cordarrelle Patterson was honored in September of 2013.

For the month of December, Reichard was a perfect 12-for-12 on extra...

The NFL’s coaching carousel is officially spinning at full speed, and the news that all Minnesota Vikings fans were expecting to hear is now upon us.

Numerous sources are reporting that the Baltimore Ravens have requested to interview defensive coordinator Brian Flores for their vacated head coaching position.

The Ravens, in a move that came as a bit of a surprise, fired coach John Harbaugh after eighteen seasons following their season-ending loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. While Harbaugh is already a hot candidate, Baltimore is turning their attention to Flores, who is looking to get a second chance at being...

Coaches are getting let go quickly. Several of the candidates could be possible replacements for Brian Flores should he go elsewhere. Jonathan Gannon might be nice. Who do you like if Flores leaves?

The QB situation is, once again, unsettled and some would say a mess. I will always remain hopeful.

Minnesota Vikings News and Links

Could Brian Flores leave the Vikings due to behind-the-scenes drama?

The concerning report comes from Jon Krawczynski, the longtime Minnesota sports reporter who specializes in covering the Timberwolves and the NBA. In an interview with KFAN-FM 100.3’s Dan Barreiro on Monday, Krawczynski indicated...

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NFL. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Vikings fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

Well, folks, the offseason is officially upon us, and with it comes our first SB Nation Reacts survey of 2026. We’ve got a couple of questions, both of which have to do with a couple of the bigger issues our favorite team is going to have to deal with this offseason.

First off, we’ve got our usual question about how you...

Vikings enter 2026 offseason—key talks on McCarthy, Turner, mocks. In this episode of The Real Forno Show, hosts Tyler Forness and Dave Stefano dissect the Minnesota Vikings’ 9-8 season wrap-up, focusing on quarterback J.J. McCarthy’s challenges, edge rusher Dallas Turner’s rapid growth, and an early dive into the 2026 NFL Draft with a simulated mock. As a Vikings 1st & SKOL production, this Minnesota Vikings podcast offers fans an in-depth offseason primer, blending analysis, bold predictions, and draft strategy to fuel SKOL Nation’s excitement.

Delving deeper, Forness reflects on McCarthy’s Week 18 exit due to a broken hand, noting, “His...

Well, it looks like this offseason will be another fantastic debate about the QB position. It has already started with folks settling into their respective camps and very very few willing to change their position (er., mind). I’m not sure what the team is actually going to do but if the people in charge want to keep their jobs then they had better have a viable alternative to JJ McCarthy. It will be very tough sell to the owners and fans if they try to run it back with JJ, Wentz, and Brosmer. That is the definition of insanity although...

The Minnesota Vikings season has come to an end. It’s a season that ended on a five-game win streak that feels a little superficial. The results weren’t what the team wanted. Coming off a 14-3 season, a 5 win drop is always going to be disappointing. J.J. McCarthy missed more games and the QB position was a mess all year. The defense really came on strong in December, but it was too late. When the team wins, we do a player of the week and when they lose, we do a Nincompoop of the Week. Missing the playoffs is an...

It may be the most obvious and defining statement about the Minnesota Vikings’ 2025 season, but it’s worth saying loud and clear: letting Sam Darnold go was a massive blunder by Kevin O’Connell and the Vikings’ Front Office. Yes, it’s a whole lot easier to make that assessment with the benefit of hindsight, but looking back on the decision, not knowing how McCarthy would fare, was there not a strong case for extending Darnold that the Vikings either ignored or downplayed based on their faith in McCarthy?

Let’s take a closer look.

A Bird in Hand

The Vikings knew...