The Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers will do battle in Week 1 at U.S. Bank Stadium in 67 days, with storylines aplenty because — it’s Vikings-Packers. But one such scenario hasn’t been fully unearthed by the masses yet — the immediate, post-Arizona Cardinals showdown between Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray and Packers defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon.
The two worked together for three seasons in Arizona. Their shared first order of business outside the desert? Dueling in the NFC North.
Gannon’s Defense Adds Personal Stakes to the Opener
Schedule-Makers Plop Murray v. Gannon Out of the Gate
The Vikings could’ve played any team in Week 1, but for the 2026 squad, the NFL chose Green Bay. The folks who made the schedule probably didn’t care much about Murray versus Gannon, but it’s happening anyway.
Arizona hired Gannon during the 2023 offseason, a year after the franchise extended Murray’s contract, the deal that included the infamous “study hall” clause before it was removed. Murray was viewed as the franchise quarterback, and with a fresh new set of eyes and ideas, Gannon took over.
The Cardinals went 15-36 in those three seasons, compiling a .294 win percentage and ranking 27th in the NFL. The experiment didn’t work, and the pair lost their jobs this offseason. Freshly removed from Arizona, they’ll dance on opposite sidelines at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Gannon’s Defense
Gannon inherits the league’s 19th-best defense per DVOA from last year. The Packers reached the postseason — lost to the Chicago Bears in a wild game — and did so with a mediocre defense that has seen better days. The club also lost superstar Micah Parsons along the way to a torn ACL.
Led by Gannon, Green Bay will face Minnesota with these notable players on defense:
- Javon Bullard (S)
- Edgerrin Cooper (LB)
- Zaire Franklin (LB)
- Javon Hargrave (DI)
- Isaiah McDuffie (LB)
- Xavier McKinney (S)
- Keisean Nixon (CB)
- Benjamin St-Juste (CB)
- Lukas Van Ness (EDGE)
- Evan Williams (S)
It’s also worth noting that Hargrave, a defensive tackle, played for the Vikings last year but was cast aside this offseason before Minnesota drafted Caleb Banks and Domonique Orange.
Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport on the Packers’ defense: “After trading Rashan Gary to Dallas, who will step up on the edge opposite Parsons? How will the move from Quay Walker to Zaire Franklin affect the linebackers? How will veteran Benjamin St. Juste and rookie Brandon Cisse fit into the Green Bay secondary?”
“The Packers have the personnel on the defensive side of the ball to field a solid unit in 2026. They are going to need to, because the NFC North has the makings of the most tightly packed division in the NFL.”
Murray’s Offense
How about Murray’s offensive tools against Gannon’s defense? He’s got ’em. Murray hasn’t quite had game action with the following group, but that story will start in living color on September 13 against this former coach.
Here’s who will notably surround Murray in Minnesota’s offense:
- Jordan Addison (WR)
- Christian Darrisaw (T)
- T.J. Hockenson (TE)
- Justin Jefferson (WR)
- Jauan Jennings (WR)
- Aaron Jones (RB)
- Donovan Jackson (LG)
- Jordan Mason (RB)
- Brian O’Neill (RT)
Murray will also have Kevin O’Connell whispering in his ear, a man known for top-tier veteran quarterback tutelage.
Our Steve Hoikkala recently noted on Jackson, a rookie lineman from last year: “Jackson was stellar in his performance last season as a rookie allowing just 2 sacks in 14 games in 2025, and looks to be the long-term starter he was brought here to be.”
“His physicality and consistency to the interior offensive line are just as important as the stability in his youth for Minnesota to build around. Jackson should be the starting left guard for years to come.”
Packers-Themed Media’s Take
LombardiAve.com‘s Luke Norris wrote about the situation in March, “Jonathan Gannon will now face Kyler Murray, who he benched in 2025, twice in 2026.
“Any new wrinkle to the Packers-Vikings rivalry is always fun, but this one comes with a second storyline outside of just Murray himself, as the man who served as his head coach for the last three years and basically benched him this past season will now stand on the sideline opposite him on two occasions in 2026, that man, of course, being new Packers defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon.”
The Packers are already favored to chip off the Vikings by a point or two.
Norris added, “There still appears to be plenty of respect between Gannon and Murray, but that doesn’t mean these upcoming Packers-Vikings matchups won’t have a little more intrigue to them.”
“Perhaps Gannon isn’t thrilled that his first regular QB1 as a head coach couldn’t stay healthy (or at least healthy enough), and perhaps Murray wants to stick it to the head coach who benched him.”
The NFL regular season is exactly nine weeks away.
