Coaches

Ryan Ficken enters his 7th season with the Vikings offense in 2013 and will transition into a new role with the club’s special teams, assisting Special Teams Coordinator Mike Priefer for the 1^st time in his Vikings career. Previously, Ficken worked with the Vikings WRs, assisting WR coach George Stewart from 2009-12.

The 2012 Vikings battled injuries to the receiving corps throughout the season but helped 2nd-year QB Christian Ponder’s development as a passer as the team went 10-6 to earn a Wild Card playoff berth. Leading receiver Percy Harvin missed the final 7 games of the season with injury but hauled in 62 receptions in the opening 9 games for a 6.9 reception per game average. Veteran Michael Jenkins ranked 3rd on the club with 40 catches and rookie Jarius Wright emerged as a threat after Harvin was sidelined. Wright snared the Vikings season-long catch with a 65-yarder vs. Green Bay (12/30) in the regular season finale and reeled in a 54-yarder on his 1st NFL catch vs. Detroit (11/11). His 54-yarder ranks behind only Adrian Peterson (60t) in Vikings history for the longest 1st catch of a players’ career.

In 2011, Percy Harvin set career highs in receptions with 87, receiving yards with 967, and tied a career high with 6 receiving touchdowns. His 87 receptions was also ranked 6th in the NFL. First year wide receiver Devin Aromashodu also made 2011 a season to remember, setting career highs in receptions with 26 and receiving yards with 468.

Second-year receiver Percy Harvin improved on his rookie season in 2010. At just 21 years old, he became the youngest player in franchise history to lead the team in receiving with 871 yards on 71 catches and 5 TDs.

In 2009, WRs Sidney Rice and Harvin had breakout seasons for the Vikings. Both players were honored as Pro Bowlers and Harvin became the 2nd Viking in 3 seasons to be named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.  Rice developed as a playmaker and became only the 3rd Vikings’ WR to post a 1,300-yard receiving season. Harvin tied for the NFL lead among rookies in receptions and yards and ranked 2nd in team history with 60 catches as a rookie.

In 2007 and 2008, the Vikings RBs were able to showcase their skills and combine the talents of Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor. In 2008, Peterson led the NFL with 1,760 yards rushing and Taylor led all NFL RBs with 25 catches on 3rd down. Peterson became the 1st Vikings RB to lead the NFL in rushing and Taylor’s 45 catches were a career high.

The 2007 Vikings offense ranked #1 in the NFL in rushing offense. Peterson had a legendary rookie year, including breaking the NFL’s single game rushing record after going for 296 yards against San Diego on 11/4/07 and earning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. Peterson finished with 1,341 yards, 12 TDs and was named the Pro Bowl MVP.

Ficken served as an offensive graduate assistant with UCLA in 2006. He worked extensively with Jim Colletto and the offensive line. Ficken broke down opponents’ game film, gave opponent reports to the offensive staff and coached the defensive scout team.

Prior to his work with the offense, Ficken was a graduate assistant in the football operations department where he acted as the NFL scout liaison and tracked opponents’ personnel during games. He was as an assistant to the recruiting coordinator, playing a big part in the 2006 recruiting class that ranked in the top 10 nationally. From 2004-2005, Ficken was a volunteer coach at UCLA, focusing primarily on the defense and the secondary.

Ficken earned his bachelor’s in business administration from ASU. He was a member of the Sun Devils football team for 2 seasons and received the Scholar-Athlete Award and was a member of Gamma Beta Phi, the National Scholastic Honor Society.

Ficken is currently finishing graduate school to obtain a masters in comparative education at UCLA. Ficken and wife, Andrea, reside in Eden Prairie.