Vikings hire Williams, Daly

After weeks of speculation, the Vikings announced today that they have signed Alan Williams as the team's new defensive coordinator and Brendan Daly as its new defensive line coach - reuniting both with head coach Leslie Frazier.

After weeks of speculation, the Vikings officially announced their new defensive coordinator today, naming Alan Williams to the position. In addition, the team announced the homecoming for Brendan Daly, who has been hired as the team’s defensive line coach.

In a statement, head coach Leslie Frazier said that both will be solid additions to the Vikings defensive coaching staff – reuniting Frazier in a coaching capacity with both.

“Alan and Brendan have both proved themselves as quality coaches in our league,” Frazier said. “I had the chance to work directly with both men and can’t say enough about their character, work ethic and ability to connect with players and push them to be their best.”

Williams has spent the last 11 seasons as an NFL coach. In 2001, he was a defensive assistant with the Buccaneers, working under Monte Kiffin and former Vikings defensive coordinator/current Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. He has spent the last 10 years as the defensive backs coach with the Colts, working alongside Tony Dungy for many years, as well as coaching with Frazier in the 2005-06 seasons. In his 11 years as a coach, his teams have made the playoffs in 10 of those seasons, including a Super Bowl title when the Colts beat Chicago in Super Bowl XLI.

Daly was an assistant defensive line coach with the Vikings from 2006-08 and joined former Vikings offensive coordinator Scott Linehan with the Rams when Linehan was hired as the head coach. He spent the last three years with the Rams under both Linehan and Steve Spagnuolo coaching the defensive line. He was let go after the Rams fired Spagnuolo and his staff, opening the door to his return to the Vikings.

Williams replaces Fred Pagac, who was relieved of his defensive coordinator duties earlier this week. Daly replaces Karl Dunbar, who was fired as the defensive line coach after six years at the position.

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John Holler has been writing about the Vikings for more than a decade for Viking Update. Follow Viking Update on Twitter and discuss this topic on our message boards. To become a subscriber to the Viking Update web site or magazine, click here.

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