Feb. 9—GRAND FORKS — Former UND offensive lineman Chris Kuper didn’t take long to find his next job.
Kuper, who didn’t have his contract renewed after four seasons as the Minnesota Vikings offensive line coach, will be hired as the offensive line coach for the Philadelphia Eagles, according to a report Monday by the NFL Network.
Kuper was an offensive lineman for the Denver Broncos from 2006 to 2013, and he began his NFL coaching career in 2016. After coaching stints with the Broncos and Miami Dolphins, he joined Kevin O’Connell’s Vikings staff in 2022.
The Eagles’ new offensive coordinator is Sean Mannion, who was a quarterback on the Vikings’ roster during Kuper’s time in Minnesota.
A native of Anchorage, Alaska, the Broncos selected Kuper in the fifth round of the 2006 NFL Draft.
Kuper, a two-time North Central Conference Lineman of the Year, was the first UND player to be drafted since Jim Kleinsasser in 1999.
Kuper played at UND at 6-foot-3 and a little over 300 pounds. He was a relatively unknown product from Alaska, who chose then-Division II UND over a scholarship offer from Western Washington and a walk-on offer from Oregon.
In the NFL, Kuper started 79 of 90 games played (68 at right guard) while playing his entire eight-year career with the Broncos.
A three-time captain with the Broncos, Kuper suffered an injury in 2011 that led to his retirement in 2014.
Kuper was named to the Pro Bowl in 2011 but didn’t attend due to the injury.
