Things in Minnesota have looked tumultuous ever since they began their training camp ahead of the 2026 regular season. From a “quarterback competition” between J.J. McCarthy and veteran Kylie Murray to minor injuries, there was a lot of shake-up. A significant blow to the team came when they suspended defensive backs coach Gerald Alexander for three weeks on July 28. Now that the three weeks are over, the coach is back on the field with the Vikings players.

ESPN analyst Kevin Seifert posted the update on X, noting, “Vikings defensive passing game coordinator/DBs coach Gerald Alexander completed his 3-week suspension Friday for drunken driving and is back on the practice field today. He also traveled with the team to Saturday’s preseason game at NYG.”

Alexander, who comes with a decade of experience coaching in the league, was hired by the Minnesota Vikings earlier in February this year as their defensive passing game coordinator/defensive backs coach. Last season, Gerald worked with the Pittsburgh Steelers as their Defensive Backs Coach.

According to Hennepin County (Minn.) District Court records, the Vikings DB coach was arrested on April 26 and charged with a misdemeanor third-degree DWI after committing a drunk driving offense.

The incident reportedly took place on April 26, when “Edina police found Alexander passed out at a local intersection at about 4 a.m. with damage to the side door, mirror and window of his Tesla and glass inside the car.”

According to court records, the officer knocked on Alexander’s window to wake him up and escort him out of the vehicle. Based on The Athletic’s report, “Alexander initially refused to exit the vehicle, and his speech was slurred. The officer also noted the odor of alcohol. Alexander took a field sobriety test and displayed all six clues of impairment, according to court records.”

Following the protocol, a preliminary breath test showed an alcohol concentration of .169 on a weak breath, whereas the legal limit in Minnesota is 0.08. After speaking with his attorney, Alexander later refused a DMT breath test.

The suspension reportedly began on July 24 and was effective till August 13, two days before their first preseason game at the New York Giants.

Shortly after the arrest and the coach’s suspension, the Vikings also posted an update on the situation.

“Following Gerald’s arrest earlier this spring, we remained in communication with the NFL while awaiting the outcome of the legal process,” the team said in a statement Tuesday. “We take these situations seriously and believe this disciplinary action is appropriate.”

Speaking on the arrest himself, Alexander took “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 the matter and ensuring I come back a better version of myself.”

Meanwhile, this isn’t the first time that Minnesota has taken strong actions against a coach. In April 2024, they suspended offensive coordinator Wes Phillips, who was arrested in December 2023 for driving while intoxicated. 

“Disappointment is the word,” Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell said. “The expectations and the standards we have are clear, and it’s important that we do those things for our players and be the examples on and off the field.”

Alexander was back on the field Friday and also traveled with the team for their first preseason game of the 2026 season against the New York Giants. While the Vikings won the game, they also suffered a big blow as the team lost veteran safety Jamal Adams for the entire season due to a torn quad tendon.

Alexander, meanwhile, has a lot to prove walking into the Vikings camp once again. He is replacing Daronte Jones, who left Minnesota this spring and took the job as the Washington Commanders’ defensive coordinator. Under Jones, the franchise ranked second in passing defense, averaging 158.5 yards.

Alexander entered the NFL coaching ranks in 2020 after Brian Flores hired him away from California. He has also worked with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Miami Dolphins, and Las Vegas Raiders.

In his first stint with the Steelers, Alexander worked with a secondary unit that tied for first in the League in interceptions with 20 in 2022. Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick also earned a Pro Bowl and First Team All-Pro honors, as he led the franchise with six interceptions.

Now, it’s on Alexander to put the incident behind him and begin his journey in Minnesota on a fresh note.