Minnesota Vikings Super Bowl Rooting Guide: Multiple former players and coaches are looking for their first world championship

The Minnesota Vikings aren’t competing for the Super Bowl, but they have a multitude of former players and coaches doing so.

Tyler Forness — NFL & College Football News Writer
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Nov 30, 2025; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) drops back to make a pass during the second half against the Minnesota Vikings at Lumen Field.
Kevin Ng-Imagn Images

The Minnesota Vikings haven’t made the Super Bowl in 49 years, which is incredibly disappointing for multiple reasons. Overall, the fanbase wants to see the Vikings win a Super Bowl, something they have never done.

Going into the big game, Vikings fans still have a few reasons to be excited. Each team has multiple former Vikings players and coaches looking for their first Super Bowl, including multiple quarterbacks.

Former Minnesota Vikings competing during Super Bowl LX

Stefon Diggs, WR, Patriots

One of the best wide receivers in Vikings’ history, and now he has a chance to win a Super Bowl. Diggs spent five seasons with the Vikings from 2015 to 2019 and was elite during that time. In 2019, he got frustrated with the direction of the offense, hence the quote “There’s truth to all rumors.” The Vikings traded him after the 2019 season to the Buffalo Bills, using that pick to select Justin Jefferson.

Who can forget the Minneapolis Miracle?

Garrett Bradbury, C, Patriots

The Vikings’ first-round pick from the 2019 NFL Draft class, Bradbury was the starting center for six seasons before he was released this past March. During his time with the Vikings, he never lived up to his first-round pick billing, but was a solid starter. He’s been that for Drake Maye during this season.

Josh Dobbs, QB, Patriots

The Passtronaut only spent half of a season with the Vikings, but it was a legendary two-game run. He led the Vikings to a come-from-behind win against the Atlanta Falcons. He then continued it the next week against the New Orleans Saints with explosiveness. It didn’t end up working out long-term, but the ride was incredible.

Vederian Lowe, LT, Patriots

Lowe was selected in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft, and he was traded for a sixth-round pick ahead of cutdown day in 2023. He’s been a solid player for the Patriots in a reserve role.

Khyiris Tonga, NT, Patriots

Tonga was one of the better free agent signings in 2022. He was brought in on October 5th, 2022, and ended up playing a crucial role on defense for the Vikings. When Brian Flores took over at defensive coordinator, they chose to move in a different direction.

Jaquelin Roy, DT, Patriots (Practice Squad)

The Vikings selected Roy in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft. He spent one season with the Vikings before he was waived at final cuts in August of 2024.

Todd Downing, Wide Receivers, Patriots

Downing was initially a coach for Eden Prairie High School in 1999-2000 and spent time with the Vikings from 2001-2005, ending as an offensive quality control coach in 2005.

Mike Smith, Outside Linebackers, Patriots

Smith was the outside linebackers coach for the Vikings in 2023, but ended up leaving the team halfway through the season. Good to see him finding success again.

Sam Darnold, QB, Seahawks

We all know how important Darnold was to the success of the 2024 Vikings, putting together one of the best quarterback seasons in franchise history. They went 14-3 and nearly won the NFC North, but their only four losses came against two teams: the Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Rams.

Over the course of the last few months, there has been a lot of revisionist history with the Vikings not bringing him back. They seriously tried to bring him back into the fold, but he made the right choice with the Seahawks, as he’s starting in the Super Bowl.

Chazz Surratt, ILB, Seahawks

Surratt was one of the four third-round picks in the 2021 NFL Draft. A former college quarterback, Surratt didn’t stay with the team very long, as he was cut after training camp in 2022.

Shaquill Griffin, CB, Seahawks (Practice Squad)

Griffin was a quality player for the Vikings in 2024, playing about 50% of the snaps as their CB3. He was a solid player, but his limitations prevented the Vikings from re-signing him in 2025.

Cam Akers, RB, Seahawks (Practice Squad)

Akers had the funnest play for the Vikings in 2025, throwing a touchdown pass to tight end Josh Oliver in London against the Cleveland Browns. He spent part of the last three seasons with the Vikings, as he’s a favorite of head coach Kevin O’Connell.

Logan Brown, OT, Seahawks (Practice Squad)

Brown was the top UDFA signing of the Vikings this year, but he didn’t make the team. He’s been with the Seahawks for the majority of the season.

Trent Sherfield Sr., WR, Seahawks (Practice Squad)

Sherfield was with the Viking last season as a core special teamer and depth wide receiver.

Klint Kubiak, Offensive Coordinator, Seahawks

Kubiak spent three seasons with the Vikings, with the first two as quarterbacks coach, and the 2021 season as the offensive coordinator. He’s grown significantly since that time with the Vikings, and it’s vaulted him to the Las Vegas Raiders head coaching job.

Rick Dennison, Run Game Coordinator, Seahawks

Dennison was a big factor of the Vikings’ running game while Kubiak was in Minnesota, serving as run game coordinator and offensive line coach in 2019 and 2020, and as a senior offensive advisor in 2021.

Leslie Frazier, Assistant Head Coach, Seahawks

Frazier joined the Vikings under Brad Childress in 2007 to replace outgoing defensive coordinator Mike Tomlin when he took the Pittsburgh Steelers head coaching job. He became the interim head coach in 2010 and the full-time head coach in 2011. He lasted three seasons before he was relieved of his duties.

Andrew Janocko, Quarterbacks Coach, Seahawks

Janocko got his start with the Vikings in 2015 and stayed with them in various roles through the 2021 season, where he was the quarterbacks coach. He reconnected with Kubiak in 2024 in New Orleans and followed him to the Seahawks.

Karl Scott, Defensive Passing Game Coordinator/Defensive Backs Coach, Seahawks

Scott was defensive backs coach under Nick Saban at Alabama before joining Mike Zimmer’s staff in 2021. He spent just the one season with the Vikings.

Jeff Howard, Safeties, Seahawks

Howard was a defensive assistant with the Vikings from 2013-2019 and left for the Cleveland Browns with Kevin Stefanski.

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