The Detroit Lions may be enjoying a moment of calm after bringing in Drew Petzing as their new offensive coordinator, but the rest of the NFC North is still very much in the thick of the NFL coaching carousel. Both the Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears made headlines this week with significant moves that could shape how this division looks heading into 2026.
Let’s start in Minnesota, where the Vikings have locked up defensive coordinator Brian Flores with a contract extension. Details of the deal haven’t been made public, but the move signals the team’s commitment to Flores after a season where his unit showed real bite.
That said, the ink on the extension doesn’t necessarily mean he’s staying put. Flores is still in the mix for head coaching jobs-he's already completed interviews with both the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens.
So while the Vikings have made their intentions clear, the door isn’t closed just yet on Flores making a jump.
Flores’ impact on the Vikings defense has been undeniable. Since taking over, his units have ranked seventh, fifth, and 13th in points allowed-a strong track record for a team that’s been in the middle of a defensive rebuild.
And when it came to facing the Lions this past season, Flores had his group locked in. Detroit was held to just 24 and 10 points in their two meetings, including a season-low 231 total yards in Week 17.
That kind of performance doesn’t go unnoticed, especially when you’re game-planning against one of the more dynamic offenses in the NFC.
Over in Chicago, the Bears are dealing with a departure of their own. Eric Bieniemy is heading back to familiar territory, rejoining the Kansas City Chiefs as their offensive coordinator.
Bieniemy only spent a season in Chicago, serving as the running backs coach, but he left a noticeable mark. The Bears finished third in the NFL in both rushing yards per game (144.5) and yards per carry (4.9), a massive step forward for a team that leaned heavily on its ground game.
Whether that success was more about Bieniemy’s coaching or the influence of new head coach Ben Johnson is up for debate, but the results speak for themselves. D’Andre Swift turned in a career-best season with 1,087 rushing yards and nine touchdowns, while rookie Kyle Monangai made an immediate impact, racking up 783 yards at a strong 4.6 yards per carry clip. That kind of one-two punch gave Chicago a real identity on offense, and Bieniemy’s fingerprints were all over it.
So while the Lions are focused on building continuity under Petzing, their division rivals are navigating a period of transition. The Vikings are trying to hold onto a defensive mind who’s drawing league-wide interest, and the Bears are now tasked with replacing a coach who helped spark one of the league’s most effective rushing attacks. The NFC North may not be making front-page headlines every day, but make no mistake-these coaching moves could be the foundation for how the 2026 season takes shape.