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Grant Udinski
Grant Udinski (born January 1996)[1][2] is an American professional football coach and former player who is the assistant offensive coordinator and assistant quarterbacks coach for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Davidson Wildcats and Towson Tigers and has previously coached for the Baylor Bears and Carolina Panthers. Early lifeUdinski was born in 1996 or 1997 in Doylestown, Pennsylvania.[3] He attended Central Bucks High School West where he played football and lacrosse, being an all-conference football player and a two-time all-conference lacrosse player.[4] He began his college football career for the Davidson Wildcats where he was a backup tight end as a freshman in 2015, recording one reception for 10 yards.[4][5] After his lone season at Davidson, Udinski transferred to the Towson Tigers as a walk-on in 2016, eventually earning a scholarship.[6] He switched to defensive end at Towson and sat out the 2016 season due to transfer rules.[4] He totaled 15 tackles in 2017 and then made 28 tackles and 4.5 sacks as a senior while playing all 12 games.[4] He was also a top student at Towson, being named CoSIDA Academic First-Team All-American, for posting an undergraduate grade-point average (GPA) of 3.94 with a master's level GPA of 4.0.[7] Coaching careerBaylor and Carolina PanthersAfter Udinski graduated from Towson, he decided to enter coaching.[6] He applied for grad school at Baylor University and was able to land a position as a graduate assistant for the Baylor Bears football team.[6] He worked under head coach Matt Rhule and assisted defensive coordinator Phil Snow.[6] He moved in with Snow during the year, after initially having lived in his car in a Walmart parking lot.[6] He helped the Bears compile an 11–3 record in the 2019 season, advancing to the Big 12 Championship Game.[6] After one year at Baylor, Udinski followed Matt Rhule to the Carolina Panthers of the NFL in 2020.[8] He held the position of coaching assistant for two years.[9] Minnesota VikingsAfter receiving a suggestion from tight ends coach Brian Angelichio, Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell hired Udinski in 2022.[8] He initially held the position of assistant to the head coach/special projects.[5] His initial duties including providing advanced scouting reports on opponents and helping with various tasks in practice.[8] O'Connell called Udinski's understanding of football "unbelievable" and in 2023, he was promoted to assistant quarterbacks coach.[8][10] He received another promotion in 2024, to assistant offensive coordinator/assistant quarterbacks coach, while the Star Tribune noted "His unofficial roles include: mentor to [quarterback] J. J. McCarthy; post-practice pass rusher or receiver for Sam Darnold; advance scout and practice lieutenant for [offensive coordinator] Wes Phillips; complement to QB coach Josh McCown; 'Crazy Grant' to O'Connell's kids; confidant, protégé and occasional comedic target for O'Connell."[8] After the 2024 season, the 29-year-old[2] Udinski was interviewed by the Seattle Seahawks as an offensive coordinator candidate.[1][11] References
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