Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave and wide receiver Michael Jenkins played key roles in the development of Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan.
Musgrave was the Falcons’ quarterbacks coach for Ryan’s first three years in the NFL, and Jenkins, a former first-round pick who played for the Falcons from 2004-10, was one of his starting receivers.
Also, the Falcons signed former Minnesota defensive end Ray Edwards as a free agent before this season. He played for the Vikings from 2006-10.
Other connections include:
- Minnesota tight ends coach Jimmie Johnson is a native of Augusta and attended Josey High School.
- Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez and Vikings kicker Ryan Longwell were teammates at California from 1994-96.
- Falcons running back Antone Smith and Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder, running back Lorenzo Booker and defensive tackle Letroy Guion played together at Florida State.
- Vikings cornerback Asher Allen (Tucker High) and Falcons linebacker Akeem Dent (Douglass High) were teammates at Georgia from 2006-08.
- Falcons linebacker Curtis Lofton and Vikings running back Adrian Peterson and defensive tackle Remi Ayodele all played together at Oklahoma.
- Falcons left tackle Will Svitek and Vikings wide receiver Greg Camarillo were teammates at Stanford from 2000-04.
- Falcons offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey spent six seasons with the Vikings as a player from 1983-88.
- Vikings wide receivers coach George Stewart held the same position with the Falcons from 2003-06.
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