Fansided

Minnesota Vikings fire offensive coach for refusing COVID-19 vaccine

By Josh Hill

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - NOVEMBER 29: Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer yells from the sideline in the fourth quarter of the game against the Carolina Panthers at U.S. Bank Stadium on November 29, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - NOVEMBER 29: Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer yells from the sideline in the fourth quarter of the game against the Carolina Panthers at U.S. Bank Stadium on November 29, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) /
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The Minnesota Vikings removed offensive line coach Rick Dennison for refusing to get the COVID-19 vaccine. 

In what could be a historic, and likely controversial, move, the Minnesota Vikings have removed offensive line coach Rick Dennison from his position after he refused to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

According to ESPN’s Courtney Cronin, the Vikings parted ways with Dennison after his refusal to get the COVID-19 vaccine. The decision comes in the wake of the NFL sending out a new memo reinforcing stricter rules about coaches and players getting the vaccine in order for hte league to fully function.

Per Cronin:

"Dennison, who had served as the Vikings’ offensive line coach/run game coordinator the past two seasons, is believed to be the first NFL position coach to part ways with his team after choosing not to receive a vaccine."

In the new memo, teams that cause a game to be canceled due to a COVID outbreak of any kind will be forced to forfeit the game in question.

The Vikings losing a top offensive coach, especially one who has been with the team for as long as Dennison was, is not the best way for Klint Kubiak to being his tenure as offensive coordinator.

Kubiak took over for his father, Gary Kubiak, who coached with Dennison in the past. The consistency of a coaching staff is oftentimes slept on by fans as a key factor in a team having a successful season, and already the Vikings are experiencing upheaval.

Add to that where the upheaval is happening. The Vikings offensive line ranked 27th in PFF’s list of offensive lines last season. The Vikings run game, however, was a bright spot in an otherwise poor season, and losing an architect behind that is a big blow.

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