Longtime Vikings assistant Andre Patterson to join Giants as defensive line coach

Minnesota defensive line coach Andre Patterson in January 2020 during an NFL football game.

By / St. Paul Pioneer Press

February 10, 2022 at 5:35 PM

Andre Patterson, a longtime Vikings assistant coach and good friend of former head coach Mike Zimmer, is moving on to the New York Giants.

A source said that Patterson will be named the Giants’ defensive line coach. For the past eight seasons, Patterson was the Vikings’ defensive line coach under Zimmer, who was fired Jan. 10. He also served as co-defensive coordinator the past two seasons and was assistant head coach in 2021.

Patterson, 61, had two stints with the Vikings. He also was their defensive line coach from 1998-99.

Zimmer will be replaced by Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell. He officially will be named Minnesota’s head coach after the Rams face the Cincinnati Bengals in Sunday’s Super Bowl.

Patterson was very popular with Minnesota players. After the news broke on Patterson’s departure, Vikings star defensive end Danielle Hunter posted a photo on Twitter of Patterson hugging him on the sideline.

With the Giants, Patterson will work under new head coach Brian Daboll and new defensive coordinator Don “Wink” Martindale.