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Special teams draw a close look in later rounds of Vikings draft May 1, 2021 7:13pm Text size Copy shortlink:
The Vikings finished the NFL draft on Saturday with an eye on special teams, where at least half of the six players selected in the later rounds can help turn things around.
Last season was dismal for Minnesota s special teams, from misfiring field goals to poor kick coverage and return phases. Coordinator Marwan Maalouf was let go and replaced by Ryan Ficken, who already knows a few of the Vikings late-round picks after interviewing them during the draft process. We did struggle on special teams last year, General Manager Rick Spielman said, but when you have the type of athletes we were able to get in the third day of the draft this year, nine times out of 10 those guys end up playing and performing well on special teams.
Vikings hire Robert Steeples as assistant special teams coach
Another former player comes back
Yesterday, the Minnesota Vikings brought back one of their former players for a role on the sidelines.
The team announced that they have hired Robert Steeples to serve as the team’s assistant special teams coach. Steeples played for the Vikings back in 2013. He appeared in two games, playing a total of 12 snaps on special teams.
Steeples has been out of the NFL since 2015, and those two games with the Vikings were the only regular season action he saw in the NFL. Since leaving the NFL, he’s been the head coach at his high school
Vikings Hire Former Player Robert Steeples as Assistant Special Teams Coach
The former De Smet Jesuit High head coach joins the Vikings, who he spent parts of two seasons with as a player.
Author:
Apr 13, 2021
The Vikings have hired ex-player and successful high school football coach Robert Steeples as their assistant special teams coach.
Steeples was a standout cornerback for Missouri and Memphis during his college career. An undrafted rookie who started out with the Rams, he joined the Vikings practice squad in September 2013 and eventually was added to the active roster. Steeples made two appearances for the Vikings that season, playing a handful of snaps on special teams.