Steelers Poised to Hire Vikings Assistant Brian Angelichio as Offensive Coordinator
The Minnesota Vikings are taking some serious hits this offseason - and not just on the field. After parting ways with general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, the team is now on the verge of losing one of Kevin O’Connell’s most trusted offensive minds.
Vikings pass game coordinator and tight ends coach Brian Angelichio is reportedly close to finalizing a deal to become the new offensive coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The move could become official as early as Wednesday, according to reports.
For Angelichio, this marks a reunion with Mike McCarthy, who coached him during his stint with the Green Bay Packers from 2016 to 2018. That stretch saw Angelichio working with Aaron Rodgers and developing a tight end unit that played a key role in Green Bay’s passing attack. Now, the two are set to team up again - this time in Pittsburgh - as McCarthy continues to reshape the Steelers’ offensive identity.
Though McCarthy will retain play-calling duties, Angelichio’s familiarity with his system makes this a natural fit. While Angelichio has yet to call plays at the NFL level, he brings over 30 years of coaching experience and a deep understanding of the nuances of McCarthy’s offense. That kind of continuity is invaluable, especially for a Steelers team looking to stabilize and elevate its offensive production.
In Minnesota, Angelichio had become a key figure in O’Connell’s staff. Under his guidance, the Vikings posted the fifth-most passing yards per game in 2023 (256.4).
That wasn’t a one-year fluke either - Minnesota was one of just three teams to rank in the top six in passing yards per game in both 2022 and 2023, alongside offensive juggernauts like the Chiefs and Dolphins. Angelichio’s fingerprints were all over that success, particularly in maximizing the tight end position as a key cog in the aerial attack.
His departure leaves a significant void in Minnesota’s coaching staff - and it comes at a time when the offense is already in flux. The 2025 season was a rocky one for the Vikings, with rookie quarterback J.J.
McCarthy struggling to find his footing. With Adofo-Mensah, one of McCarthy’s biggest supporters, now gone, the future of the QB position is anything but certain heading into the offseason.
And in the NFC North, uncertainty is dangerous. The division is as deep and competitive as it’s been in years, with the Lions, Packers, and Bears all on the rise. The Vikings, meanwhile, are staring down a reset - and losing a key offensive architect like Angelichio only makes the climb steeper.
For Pittsburgh, though, this is a savvy move. They’re getting a seasoned coach who knows McCarthy’s system, has a track record of developing tight ends, and has helped engineer one of the league’s more efficient passing games in recent seasons. It’s a move that could help the Steelers take the next step offensively - and one that might just sting a little extra for Vikings fans watching from afar.