Former Las Vegas Raiders defensive coordinator Paul Guenther’s stint with the team came to an unceremonious end back in mid-December following a loss to the Indianapolis Colts.
The Raiders have since managed to fill the void with the addition of former Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Gus Bradley. He will now be tasked with leading a resurgence on this side of the ball following a disappointing showing in the 2020 NFL season.
Las Vegas is hardly the only team making some significant changes to their coaching staff heading into the offseason. Guenther has wasted no time taking advantage of the situation with the Minnesota Vikings.
According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, Guenther has been hired as a senior defensive assistant:
The #Vikings are hiring Paul Guenther as a senior defensive assistant, sources tell me and @RapSheet. The former #Bengals and #Raiders DC worked with Mike Zimmer for six years in Cincinnati and knows that scheme well.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) February 10, 2021
Guenther will be joining a familiar face in Minnesota alongside head coach Mike Zimmer. He had coached under Zimmer when the pair were with the Cincinnati Bengals from 2008-2013.
Guenther served as a defensive assistant, assistant linebackers coach, and linebackers coach before he was promoted to defensive coordinator for the Bengals after Zimmer left to take the head coaching gig with the Vikings. He was then brought on as the new coordinator for the Raiders where he spent the past three seasons.
The sense of familiarity between Guenther and Zimmer should help smoothen the transition to his new role that was previously held by Dom Capers. Minnesota is hoping that his arrival will yield much better results this time around.
There is certainly plenty of work to be done after the Vikings gave up the sixth-most total yards (393.3) and fourth-most pointers per game (29.7) during the 2020 campaign. The struggles on defense resulted in this team taking a huge step back with a losing season at 7-9.
The change of scenery with some familiar faces should help pay some dividends for Guenther following his time with the Raiders.
