EAGAN, Minn. — The Vikings have added a new name to their coaching staff.
Minnesota hired Keith Carter as its assistant offensive line coach, the team announced Tuesday. He brings two decades of coaching experience, spanning the collegiate and pro ranks, to Vikings Head Coach Kevin O'Connell's staff.
Carter most recently spent the 2023 and 2024 seasons as the New York Jets offensive line coach and run-game coordinator. During the 2024 campaign, he helped the Jets average 4.3 yards per rush, the team's third-highest average over the past 10 seasons. He also played an integral role in developing former Penn State standout Olu Fashanu, whom the Jets drafted 11th overall last April. Fashanu appeared in 15 games as a rookie, making seven starts, and allowed just one sack over 372 pass-blocking snaps played.
Carter demonstrated adaptability and fortitude in 2023 when injuries riddled the Jets offensive line, forcing an NFL-high 13 different starters up front. He oversaw the unit that still helped second-year running back Breece Hall rack up 1,585 scrimmage yards, fourth most in the league.
Carter will join Vikings offensive line coach Chris Kuper in guiding the position group. Entering his fourth season with Minnesota, Kuper also is no stranger to changes in the trenches. In 2024, the Vikings lost left tackle Christian Darrisaw to a season-ending knee injury in Week 8 and in response acquired Cam Robinson from Jacksonville via trade. Minnesota also activated guard Dalton Risner off Injured Reserve in Week 9; in Week 11, Risner replaced Ed Ingram at right guard.
O'Connell spoke with Twin Cities media members at the NFL Scouting Combine Tuesday in Indianapolis and detailed his excitement for adding Carter to the staff.
"I want to get stronger overall," he noted of Minnesota's offensive line. "I love what Chris Kuper's been able to do in that room, but I wanted to take the opportunity to get a former [head position coach] that's been involved in some of the best rushing attacks over the past four, five, six years in football.
"I think he's at a great time in his career where he really wanted to come to Minnesota, and I really think he's going to be able to help us a lot, infuse some things into our run game," O'Connell added.
O'Connell said Carter "speaks the same language" as Minnesota coaching staff and highlighted the success he's had over his years coaching in the NFL.
Prior to his time with the Jets, Carter spent five seasons (2018-22) with the Titans as the team's offensive line coach. He previously served as the Falcons assistant offensive line coach in 2015 and 2016 before coaching Atlanta's running backs in 2017. Carter was a member of the Falcons coaching staff that led the team to an appearance in Super Bowl LI against the New England Patriots. The offensive line helped pave the way for Atlanta to finish fifth in the NFL in rushing that season, averaging 120.5 yards per game.
"He's a tough, kind of gritty guy. You'll find some things about him in regards to being tough on his players," O'Connell said. "But I think in the No. 2 role, he's gonna be really good for us, and he's in a great spot in his career to really help us.
"The dynamic with Kup', who I think is really coming into his own running that room, and then getting another strong schematics, technique, fundamentals [focused] voice to go along with Kup' is a real plan of development for the whole room," O'Connell continued. "But then as we also evolve and take our scheme to new heights, he's got some [experience] and will be able to provide some layers to that to help us."
Carter got his NFL coaching start as the Seahawks offensive quality control coach in 2012 and 2013. Before entering the pros, he coached collegiately at the University of San Diego (2009-11), University of Redlands (2007-08), Wagner College (2006) and at UCLA (2005), his alma mater.
His playing career for the Bruins spanned 2001-04, during which he played tight end and fullback.
Carter is the grandson of Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive end Gino Marchetti, who played 13 seasons (1953-66) for the Baltimore Colts.
A native of Downington, Pennsylvania, Carter and his wife Kristin have two daughters, Kayla and Kamryn.
