The team plane for the Minnesota Vikings experienced mechanical issues Saturday on their flight to New Jersey for a game against the New York Giants. <a href="https://x.com/TomPelissero/status/2002505989614964937?s=20">Per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network</a>, the flight had to turn around and return to Minneapolis as a result. 



“Shortly after departing, the team plane experienced mechanical issues that required a return to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport,” the Vikings said in a statement. “The team will board a second plane momentarily and is now expected to arrive at Newark International Airport later tonight.”



Based on the statement, it appears that the Vikings will still arrive in time for the 1 p.m. ET kickoff on Sunday. But it certainly sounds like a scary situation that thankfully was handled safely. 



Minnesota is currently 6-8 on the season and has already been eliminated from playoff contention. Likewise, the Giants have also been eliminated and are currently tied with the Las Vegas Raiders for the worst record in the league at 2-12. 



Injuries have played a part in the Vikings’ performance this season, with quarterback <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/jj-mccarthy-50402/">JJ McCarthy</a> missing six games. The Vikings are 4-4 in the eight games he played this year, and enter this game on a two-game winning streak. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-report-cal-hires-vikings-assistant-michael-hutchings-as-defensive-coordinator">Report: Cal hires Vikings assistant Michael Hutchings as defensive coordinator</h2>



<a href="https://www.on3.com/sites/golden-bear-report/">California</a> is expected to hire <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/coach/michael-hutchings-136447/">Michael Hutchings</a> as its next defensive coordinator, <a href="https://x.com/Schultz_Report/status/2002134435328917601?s=20">per Jordan Schultz.</a> Hutchings has been the Minnesota Vikings’ safeties coach since 2024.



He served as the Vikings’ assistant defensive backs coach in 2023. Prior to that, Hutchings was the outside linebackers coach at <a href="https://www.on3.com/college/western-kentucky-hilltoppers/">Western Kentucky</a>. He also has served as an assistant coach at <a href="https://www.on3.com/teams/oregon-ducks/">Oregon</a> and <a href="https://www.on3.com/teams/usc-trojans/">USC</a>.



Hutchings will serve under new California head coach <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/coach/tosh-lupoi-132988/">Tosh Lupoi</a>, who has been Oregon’s defensive coordinator and linebackers coach since 2022. Following Lupoi’s debut campaign at Oregon, the Ducks have annually had a top-25 defense.



Oregon is having its best defensive campaign yet under Lupoi this season. The Ducks are giving up just 251.6 yards of offense per game, the third-least in the country.



Lupoi played defensive lineman at California from 2000-05. He led the team in tackles in 2003. In November, Oregon head coach <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/coach/dan-lanning-134322/">Dan Lanning</a> endorsed Lupoi’s ability to lead a team.



“Tosh is an unbelievable coach,” <a href="https://www.si.com/college/cal/football/dan-lanning-endorses-tosh-lupoi-the-early-favorite-to-be-cal-s-next-head-coach-01kashzyssmc">Lanning said</a>. “I learned from him as much as, and now getting to work together in this setting as a head coach, but I’ve learned from him back when I was a GA at Alabama. And he is a relentless worker and an unbelievable guy in preparing. He’ll make an outstanding head coach, when the opportunity comes that he wants and it makes sense for him.”



On3’s Grant Grubbs contributed to this report.

The team plane for the Minnesota Vikings experienced mechanical issues Saturday on their flight to New Jersey for a game against the New York Giants.

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Vikings team plane experiences mechanical issues on flight to face Giants

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