While the head coach, offensive coordinator, and defensive coordinator stayed put this offseason, the rest of Kevin O’Connell’s coaching staff has scattered in recent weeks. On Wednesday, the Vikings lost assistant wide receivers coach Tony Sorrentino to the Arizona Cardinals, where he’ll lead wide receivers as the top guy.
Sorrentino is headed to Arizona with Mike LaFleur, giving the Minnesota Vikings another coaching staff exit this offseason.
Sorrentino spent four years with the Vikings, coming aboard at the dawn of the O’Connell era in 2022.
Tony Sorrentino Joins Mike LaFleur in Arizona
Change, change, change for the 2026 Vikings.
Sorrentino to ARI
It’s a done deal for Sorrentino in Arizona. David Veenstra of Arizona Sports wrote Wednesday evening, “The Arizona Cardinals are reportedly hiring Tony Sorrentino as their next wide receivers coach, according to ESPN’s Peter Schrager. The move comes after Arizona filled its offensive coordinator role with Nathaniel Hackett last Wednesday.”
“Sorrentino spent four seasons in Minnesota as the Vikings’ assistant wide receivers coach, working alongside the likes of Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and Jailor Nailor. For Arizona, Sorrentino fills the position vacated after Drew Terrell departed to join the Buffalo Bills.”
The Cardinals were one of the final NFL teams to replace their head coach this offseason, picking LaFleur after firing Jonathan Gannon.
The Cardinals’ WRs Inherited by Sorrentino
As an assistant wide receivers coach in Minnesota, Sorrentino had the privilege of working with the aforementioned Jefferson, Addison, Nailor, and even Adam Thielen throughout the last four seasons. In Arizona, he’ll certainly have pieces, but the group isn’t quite as proven as the Vikings’ WR room.
These are the wideouts under contract in Arizona for 2026:
- Marvin Harrison Jr.
- Michael Wilson
- Xavier Weaver
- Tejhuan Palmer
- Jalen Brooms
- Andre Baccellia
- Ihmir Smith-Marsette
- Bryson Green
Harrison Jr. and Wilson obviously headline the unit. Arizona will probably be shopping for a WR3. It’s worth noting that Nailor is scheduled to test free agency; the Cardinals can be added to his list of possible landing spots with Sorrentino now in the house.
Sorrentino’s Bio
Sorrentino worked as the passing game coordinator and wide receiver coach at Northern Illinois for a few years before getting the call from the Vikings in 2022. And before that, from 2013 to 2016, he coached wide receivers for the Jaguars in Jacksonville, while Hackett served as quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator. It’s the Hackett connection that drew Sorrentino to Arizona.
Vikings.com on Sorrentino’s bio: “Prior to his time at NIU, Sorrentino spent the 2018 season as the director of football operations at Florida Atlantic. In addition to working at FAU and Minnesota, Sorrentino had stops at Miami (2011), Tennessee (2017), and his alma mater, The College of New Jersey (2007 & 2012).”
“While with Minnesota, Sorrentino coached quarterback Adam Weber to a career year, aiding him in posting 2,679 passing yards, 20 touchdowns and nine interceptions.”
The same site also banged the drum for Sorrentino on Addison’s development: “Sorrentino also played a pivotal role in the development of rookie Jordan Addison, who started 14 of the 17 games he played. His 10 receiving touchdowns tied for the most among all rookies in the NFL (Sam LaPorta) and tied for the fourth most among all players in the league, and he finished third in receiving yards (911) and yards per game (53.6), fifth in yards per reception (13.0) and sixth in receptions (70) among all rookies in 2023.”
“Addison became the 13th player in NFL history and fifth since 2000 to record at least 900 receiving yards and 10 receiving touchdowns in his rookie season. He was tabbed the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month for the month of October, tallying five receiving touchdowns, which tied for the most across the NFL in October and were two more than any rookie during the month.”
All the Departed Vikings Coaches
The movement may be over for Minnesota’s coaching staff, and it’s the busiest offseason since 2022 per coaching upheaval. All told, these seven coaches have departed the franchise in the last couple of months:
- Chris Kuper (offensive line) PHI
- Michael Hutchings (safeties) CAL
- Marcus Dixon (defensive line) DAL
- Mike Pettine (assistant head coach) n/a
- Tony Sorrentino (assistant WRs) ARI
- Daronte Jones (defensive passing game) WAS
- Brian Angelichio (offensive passing game) PIT
It’s worth noting that the most popular coaches via name recognition haven’t left: Kevin O’Connell, Brian Flores, Wes Phillips, and Keenan McCardell.
While Sorrentino won’t be in charge of quarterbacks, Arizona may need a new signal-caller, as Kyler Murray is expected to be traded or released this offseason — and may even end up in Minnesota.
The Cardinals have about $42 million to spend in free agency as of February 12th; some of that total will likely be spent on a wide receiver or two for Sorrentino.
