EAGAN, Minn. — The Minnesota Vikings have placed defensive backs coach Gerald Alexander on a three-week unpaid suspension following his involvement in a drunk driving incident earlier this year.
Event Context
Alexander is entering his 10th season as an NFL coach, having served as the defensive backs coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers last year. He previously held the same position with the Miami Dolphins for two seasons while Brian Flores was the head coach. A former NFL safety, Alexander was drafted in the second round by the Detroit Lions in 2007 and played in the league for five seasons.
Player Focus
At 4:01 a.m. on April 26, police in Edina, a suburb of Minneapolis, responded to a report of a vehicle blocking the intersection with an unresponsive driver inside. Upon arrival, an officer noted that the vehicle had visible damage and managed to wake Alexander by opening the door. The officer observed that Alexander’s speech was slurred, and he struggled with balance during a field sobriety test, leading to the decision to halt the one-leg stand test to prevent injury. A preliminary breath test revealed an alcohol concentration of .169, more than double the legal limit. Following his transport to the police station, Alexander declined to take an official breath test.
Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell announced that the team had been in discussions with the league over the past three months since Alexander’s arrest and confirmed that disciplinary actions were initiated after conclusion of the court proceedings.
O’Connell expressed his disappointment during a press conference at the start of training camp, stating, “Disappointment is the word. Our expectations and standards are clear, and it’s crucial that we uphold these for our players and lead by example both on and off the field.”
In related news, Commanders tight ends coach Ben Steele was dismissed on Monday following his arrest for suspicion of driving under the influence last month. Steele had recently joined Washington after serving three seasons with the Arizona Cardinals and previously worked as the assistant offensive line coach for the Vikings in 2021.
Match Outlook
The Vikings announced a suspension on Tuesday as they kicked off training camp. Alexander’s suspension took effect on Friday and will last until August 13, just two days ahead of their opening preseason game against the New York Giants.
In a statement provided by the Vikings, Alexander said, ‘I take full responsibility for the situation I put myself in and apologize for not meeting the mark. I know it’s unacceptable. I understand the suspension and am committed to learning from this experience to return as a better version of myself.’
Alexander, who was appointed as the defensive passing game coordinator in February, is succeeding Daronte Jones, who has transitioned to the role of defensive coordinator for the Washington Commanders.
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Court records from Hennepin County reveal that on July 16, Alexander entered a guilty plea to a gross misdemeanor for third-degree driving while impaired, specifically for refusing to undergo a chemical test. As part of the proceedings, a charge of fourth-degree driving while impaired was dismissed. He received a sentence of 48 hours of community service, was placed on two years of unsupervised probation, and ordered to pay a fine of $603.
