Deion Sanders will need a new defensive assistant on his coaching staff.

Colorado defensive tackles coach Patrick Hill is expected to join the Minnesota Vikings’ staff as an assistant defensive line coach, per On3’s Matt Zenitz.

Hill was hired by Colorado after being an analyst for LSU in 2022. Per his CU bio, Hill’s previous coaching stops include James Madison, West Virginia State, Eastern Michigan, Central Oklahoma, Upper Iowa and Birmingham Southern.

What does the departure mean?

Late February/early March is not the ideal time to be hiring a new assistant coach, but there’s time to find a replacement before Colorado starts spring practice on March 19. Sanders will want to find his next assistant sooner than later, but he shouldn’t feel too rushed with this hire.

This comes with the territory of coaching in the Power 5. While Hill is going from being the defensive tackles coach to the assistant to Minnesota’s defensive line coach, it’s still an NFL opportunity. It’s hard to fault an up-and-coming coach for leaving to join an NFL staff.