When Kevin Stefanski left the Vikings to become coach of the Cleveland Browns, it ended his 14-year tenure here, but it also extended one of the best coaching stories in the NFL.
The fact that Stefanski went from being a personal assistant to Vikings coach Brad Childress in 2006 to himself becoming the coach of an NFL squad 14 years later at age 38 is as impressive as any coaching rise in the league.
And the Vikings have to be proud about how last season served as a great steppingstone for Stefanski. Mike Zimmer brought in Super Bowl-winning coach Gary Kubiak as a tutor of sorts while Stefanski was in his first full season as Vikings offensive coordinator.