The Minnesota Vikings have a lot going for them with the 2026 season approaching. They have many of the players who helped them win 14 games two years ago on the roster. The hope is that, with an average level of quarterback play, it will be enough to return to the playoffs and go on a run when they get there.
But even with Kevin O’Connell at the controls and Nolan Teasley in the front office, it feels like something is missing. That sort of comment invites ridicule from rival fan bases. Still, it may be accurate, given that Justin Jefferson has become a one-man show in Minnesota.
Jefferson is worthy of the praise as one of – if not the best – the top receivers in the NFL. But few people reach the top alone in football, and it may take a second superstar to help him get there.
In many ways, the Vikings could use a second superstar. Still, there’s an interesting argument about who that player could be.
We see this in sports all the time, and the best local example could be the Minnesota Wild. They had a true superstar in Kirill Kaprizov and a supporting cast good enough to reach the playoffs, but not for a deep run. After a decade of getting bounced in the first round, the Wild traded for Quinn Hughes, and it was the grand opening of a championship window that they’re trying to take advantage of.
In many ways, the Vikings are at the same point the Wild were one year ago. Jefferson is a star and the supporting cast is good enough to be a playoff team. But somebody has to step up and be that second star.
Looking around the NFL, the best teams aren’t just one guy.
- The Los Angeles Rams have Matthew Stafford at quarterback and Myles Garrett on defense.
- The Seattle Seahawks had Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Sam Darnold joined him last season.
- Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce have fueled the Kansas City Chiefs’ dominance.
- Even the Green Bay Packers have Jordan Love on one side of the ball and Micah Parsons on the other, allowing them to use both stars to have impact players on the field at all times.
Even the best teams in Vikings history had a pair of stars at the controls. In 1998, there was Randy Moss and Cris Carter. Two years later, it was Randy Moss and Daunte Culpepper. In 2009, Adrian Peterson and Brett Favre led the way. In other words, having multiple stars can change everything for a team. All eyes are on the quarterback position in Minnesota.
Jefferson’s best seasons came with Kirk Cousins and Darnold at the controls. His production slipped as J.J. McCarthy and the rest of the Vikings’ quarterbacks struggled to get the ball to him. In the long term, McCarthy’s ascent to franchise quarterback status would be the best outcome. But it may not be possible either because McCarthy doesn’t have the talent or Kyler Murray outplays him during training camp.
Murray has the talent to be that star. A former No. 1 overall pick, Murray has scrambling ability that few can match in the NFL. His passing also has been good enough to make sure the ball gets to Jefferson. But the possibility that Murray is only here for a year could diminish that possibility and could have the Vikings wondering who else the second star could be.
Jordan Addison is another natural answer. O’Connell nearly broke down in tears upon realizing he got a “Day 1 starter” in the first round in the 2023 draft. But his production has declined across all three seasons, and his string of off-the-field issues could end his time in Minnesota, even as the Vikings plan to offer him a contract extension.
The Vikings backfield has been an anonymous group since Dalvin Cook left town. While T.J. Hockenson has one elite season under his belt, his recent play suggests he’s more of a complementary piece than a real star.
Perhaps the Vikings’ second star is on defense. Jonathan Greenard was productive as a pass-rusher, but he never achieved true superstar status during his time in Minnesota. His replacement, Dallas Turner, has always had the upside, but he needs to step up and do it full-time.
Maybe someone like Caleb Banks, who has massive size and freakish upside, could fill that role. But a foot injury and questions about his college production make him more of a project as he begins his career. The linebacker and secondary also don’t have a true game-changer. Meanwhile, while Brian Flores is one of the NFL’s best defensive coordinators, he’s more of a reason the Vikings stay in games than a transformative force like Jefferson.
Unless you think Will Reichard is a star in his own right for rubbing elbows with Chris Jericho, it may be hard to tell who is the Vikings’ second star. But maybe the correct answer is O’Connell.
Coaching is always important in the NFL, but it’s even better when it unlocks a star. O’Connell’s offense helped Jefferson almost win a Triple Crown in 2022. The culture he’s developed makes it seem like he’s not going anywhere, even if the Vikings stumble again in 2026.
But even if a head coach is a driving force, they can’t do anything when the headsets shut off. O’Connell’s mentor, Sean McVay, found that out while trying to lead Jared Goff to a Super Bowl in 2018. Therefore, things could get interesting if neither McCarthy nor Murray grabs the superstar title this season.
It’s something the Vikings need to figure out as Teasley begins his time as general manager and Minnesota figures out what has kept them from being more than a rip on a slot machine. If a second star emerges, it would be a major development for the Vikings and could help them get closer to finding the elusive formula for long-term success.
