Tony Sorrentino enters his third season on the Minnesota Vikings staff and seventh in the NFL as the assistant wide receivers coach in 2024. He previously spent three seasons with Northern Illinois, most recently serving as the passing game coordinator/wide receivers coach.
During 2023, Sorrentino's second season in Minnesota, WR Justin Jefferson broke Michael Thomas' NFL record for the most receiving yards by a player in his first four seasons in the league with 5,899 yards. Jefferson, who started just nine games due to a hamstring injury, achieved his fourth straight season with 1,000 receiving yards, joining WRs Thomas (2016-19), Mike Evans (2014-17), A.J. Green (2011-14) and Moss (1998-2001) as the only players in NFL history to have four straight seasons of 1,000 receiving yards to start their careers. Jefferson averaged 107.4 receiving yards per game in 2023, the second most in the league (Tyreek Hill, 112.4).
Sorrentino also played a pivotal role in the development of rookie WR Jordan Addison, who started 14 of the 17 games he played. His 10 receiving touchdowns tied for the most among all rookies in the NFL (Sam LaPorta) and tied for the fourth most among all players in the league, and he finished third in receiving yards (911) and yards per game (53.6), fifth in yards per reception (13.0) and sixth in receptions (70) among all rookies in 2023. Addison became the 13th player in NFL history and fifth since 2000 to record at least 900 receiving yards and 10 receiving touchdowns in his rookie season. He was tabbed the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month for the month of October, tallying five receiving touchdowns, which tied for the most across the NFL in October and were two more than any rookie during the month.
In his first season with the Vikings in 2022, Sorrentino was instrumental in helping Jefferson win NFL offensive MVP and become the first player in franchise history to lead the league in both receptions (128) and receiving yards (1,809). Jefferson's 1,809 receiving yards in 2022 was the sixth-most in NFL history and he joined Calvin Johnson, Cooper Kupp, Julio Jones, Jerry Rice and Antonio Brown as the only receivers to reach 1,800 receiving yards in a season. He was selected to his third Pro Bowl (2020-22) and was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week (Week 10) and NFC Offensive Player of the Month (November). Sorrentino also helped WR K.J. Osborn record two 100-plus yard receiving games, including his five receptions for 117 yards performance where he hauled in a 66-yard reception, marking the longest completion by the Vikings during that season.
In 2021, Sorrentino helped coach NIU to a 9-5 record, beating Kent State 41-23 in the MAC Championship. Additionally, he coached WR Trayvon Rudolph to a 2021 All-MAC Second-Team honor, aiding him to 49 receptions, 877 yards and seven touchdowns. Rudolph also recorded 309 receiving yards in a single game against Kent State in 2021, shattering the school's previous record of 266 set by WR Sam Hurd in 2005.Â
Sorrentino, who was NIU's tight ends and fullbacks coach in 2019, moved to wide receivers coach in 2020. He mentored WR Tyrice Richie to a breakout season in 2020. Richie earned All-MAC honors after leading the team with 597 yards receiving on 53 receptions with four touchdowns in just six games.Â
During the 2019 season, Huskies tight ends accounted for 34% of NIU's receiving yardage. Tight end Daniel Crawford led the way with 37 receptions for 443 yards and two touchdowns, while TE Mitchell Brinkman tallied 445 yards on 34 catches, including three touchdowns.
Prior to his time at NIU, Sorrentino spent the 2018 season as the director of football operations at Florida Atlantic.Â
In addition to working at FAU and Minnesota, Sorrentino had stops at Miami (2011), Tennessee (2017), and his alma mater, The College of New Jersey (2007 & 2012). While with Minnesota, Sorrentino coached quarterback Adam Weber to a career year, aiding him in posting 2,679 passing yards, 20 touchdowns and nine interceptions.Â
Sorrentino spent four years in the NFL with the Jacksonville Jaguars (2013-16) where he worked with the wide receivers. Under Sorrentino's tutelage, Jaguars WR Marqise Lee posted career highs in receptions (63), receiving yards (851) and receiving touchdowns (3) in 2016. WR Allen Robinson earned his first Pro Bowl recognition in 2015 with 1,400 yards receiving and 14 touchdowns. Also in 2015, WR Allen Hurns became the youngest undrafted player since the 1970 NFL merger to post 1,000-plus receiving yards and 10-plus receiving touchdowns in a single season.
Prior to moving into the collegiate and professional coaching ranks, Sorrentino began his coaching career in the New Jersey prep ranks with stints at Montville Township High School (2008), West Essex High School (2006) and Morristown Beard High School (2005).
He and wife, Kara, have three children - a daughter, Marea, and two sons, Anthony, Jr. and Luca.
