Is there a chance to add somebody maybe with different skill sets? Eagan, Minn. (February 15, 2022) The Minnesota Vikings have named Kevin O'Connell as the 10th head coach in franchise history. Theres a lot of different directions you can go, OConnell said, and (each decision) affects another one and another one. Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson put on a show Saturday at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine, making history during his highly anticipated workout. It is something Ive thought a lot about.. Therefore, with free agency 11 days away, the Vikings and Thielen are firmly in the see what happens phase of the offseason, described by Thielen. [How do you] round him to make sure that you can win that way? The more I can educate myself, learning about the details and particulars of our current situation, our previous situation, and obviously what it looks like moving forward, the more my conversations can be not only from an accurate place of where we are at this moment but where we hope to get to, OConnell said. The Minnesota Vikings named Kevin O'Connell as the 10th head coach in franchise history on Feb. 16, 2022. These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. The offensive coordinator from the 2022 Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams, Kevin O'Connell, is finalizing his head coaching contract with the Minnesota Vikings. When you visit any web site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. converting part of right tackle Brian O'Neill's base salary to a signing bonus. He recently coached Stafford to a Super Bowl win, helping him post a 4-0 record in the postseason and 108.3 passer rating, which trailed only QB Josh Allen and QB Patrick Mahomes. To say I'm excited about coaching Justin for a really long time is an understatement.". O'Connell joins the Vikings after serving as the offensive coordinator for the Los A. But Kevin O'Connell's comments later in the week made it sound like something bigger was in the works. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. Theres a reason I feel so strongly about Kirk. Adofo-Mensah admitted his elevation to GM brought him more exposure to the human elements than when he was advancing through the research-and-development departments with the 49ers and Browns. None of that is to say OConnell is not evaluating quarterbacks in this years draft. So, ultimately, we didn't accomplish the goals we wanted to accomplish, and I always want to be respectful of that. The Associated Press NFL Offensive Player of the Year winner, Jefferson dominated opponents, generating 10 games over the 100-yard mark in O'Connell's first season in Minnesota. Before the Super Bowl, Thielen said onESPNsFirst Take, I want to retire a Viking. As a senior, he was named his team's Most Valuable Player, and selected to All-League, All-North County, and All-San Diego teams. The last remaining head coach opening in the NFL has been filled. "We are ecstatic to add Kevin as our head coach," said Vikings Owner/President Mark Wilf. Were going to continue to look at whats the best route to go moving forward (with Thielen), OConnell said. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. But the quarterback position, both the understanding of where that player truly is when you get a chance to start coaching him, and then what your plan is for that player moving forward.. So theres not one right way.. These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. O'Connell played quarterback at San Diego State University, and was selected by the New England Patriots in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft. A significant part of the positive culture was OConnell and Cousins working together in lockstep. "Very thankful for him in Year 1 and really looking forward to seeing him growing both as a leader and continued dominance at the receiver position.". O'Connell and the Rams are coming. [17] He was released on August 12, 2012. They could have done what the Pittsburgh Steelers did by drafting Kenny Pickett in the first round last year, but they knew he wasnt the guy. Certainly the facilities would have gotten an A+ last year but its hard to imagine they would have ranked No. Florida's Anthony Richardson, one of the draft's most intriguing QB prospects, told reporters on Friday that in high school he modeled his game after two notable passers: Cam Newton and Lamar Jackson. Part of the reason for this is that the Vikings were still recovering from the Herschel Walker trade. O'Connell also helped Vikings all-time leading rusher Adrian Peterson eclipse 1,000 scrimmage yards (1,040) at the age of 34. O'Connell oversaw the production of three quarterbacks in 2019, specifically rookie QB Dwayne Haskins, Jr. Once Haskins, Jr., became the full-time starter in Week 9, he passed for 1,225 yards, seven touchdowns, three interceptions and an 85.5 passer rating. In other words, hes going to look in the store window at this years draft class because he always does, whether he is shopping or not. What he means to our league, how he carries himself, how he works every day. O'Connell, 36, was a member of the 49ers coaching staff (special projects) in 2016 and overlapped that season with new Vikings General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. OConnell said he values the way the aforementioned players embraced his hiring last year and appreciates the way they helped bring about an entirely new culture. O'Connell and the Rams are coming off a victory in Super Bowl LVI against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. Kevin William O'Connell (born May 25, 1985), nicknamed "KOC",[1] is an American football coach and former player who is the head coach for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). For O'Connell to coach Jefferson for a "really long time," the star receiver will need a contract extension. And its even stronger now, OConnell said. When you have the receiver that leads the league in yards and receptions and have three other guys with 60-plus, you feel really strongly about that group, and I still think that theres places to go where we can build upon it even more, OConnell mentioned about Justin Jefferson and his wide receiving corps. The Vikings head coach compared all of the moving parts to puzzle pieces but its more like a choose-your-own-adventure book because each choice with Player X impacts Player Y and the combination of all of the decisions takes you to a different endpoint. O'Connell, 36, was a third-round pick . Already Subscribed? I am committed to working tirelessly to bring them a Super Bowl championship.". His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Prior to joining the Rams, O'Connell worked in Washington, serving as the quarterbacks coach in 2017-18 and the offensive coordinator in 2019. Were going to continue to take a look at whats the best route to go moving forward in that room, as are all the other rooms. He played one season for the Patriots behind QB Matt Cassel following a season-ending injury to QB Tom Brady. But Kevin OConnells comments later in the week made it sound like something bigger was in the works. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. But the biggest question on everybodys mind was what they were going to do with Kirk Cousins. The process was complicated by the lack of free agency and offseason movement due to the NFLs player lockout. ", "We've shown that we have a culture and an ability to do those things at a really high level," Adofo-Mensah said. Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott's cap hit might be rising in 2023, but owner Jerry Jones believes his quarterback has the ability to bridge the gap in any talent the roster might lose because of it. Right. Along the way, personal relationships grew. He reiterated that he is proud of the way Cousins played in 2022 and is looking forward to seeing the 34-year-old build on things in 2023. And trading him post June 1 would save the team $35 million of that against their cap. The numbers bear out OConnells observation. A former NFL quarterback who was a career backup, O'Connell has been the Rams' offensive coordinator for the past two seasons. Doing so could mean some hard decisions on key contributors from last season like Dalvin Cook, Eric Kendricks, ZaDarius Smith and others. 1 in other areas before hiring OConnell and GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, particularly with a different attitude toward players and increased focus on sports science in the training room. I think that's where we want to go eventually," Adofo-Mensah continued. Passing, he ranked tenth in yardage, eighth in attempts, and seventh in completions. Try a week on us. Spielman tried his hand at it, scouting Carson Strong and praising Malik Willis response to an overrated chant one year ago. "Like [O'Connell] said in his final meeting, 'It's supposed to hurt. With Robert Quinn, Cameron Jordan and Cameron Heyward still on the board, the Vikings decided to get their guy Christian Ponder. Its just not possible when sitting $24 million over the cap (per OverTheCap.com) to bring all the veterans back. Last edited on 26 February 2023, at 04:43, "Adam Thielen on KOC's lack of screaming: 'It's kind of almost awkward', "SDSU Aztecs Biography for Kevin O'Connell", "Offensive Evolution Under Long Has Come to Pass for the Aztecs", "Kevin O'Connell Draft and Combine Prospect Profile", "Kevin OConnell, San Diego State, QB, 2008 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football", "Lions have seven picks in upcoming draft", "Jets lose confidence in rookie running back Joe McKnight", "Jets release backup QB Mark Brunell, still waiting on Nnamdi Asomugha", "Jets awarded four players off waivers, including QB Kevin O'Connell; cut Aaron Maybin", "Chargers Notes: Former LCC, Aztecs QB O'Connell signed as emergency fill-in", "Kevin O'Connell hired to coach QBs as Browns round out offensive staff", "49ers adding O'Connell to offensive staff", "Kevin O'Connell will coach quarterbacks in Washington", "Redskins Promote Kevin O'Connell To Offensive Coordinator; Matt Cavanaugh Moves To Senior Offensive Assistant", "Kevin O'Connell amicably departs as Redskins hire Scott Turner as OC", "2021 Los Angeles Rams Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports", "Los Angeles Rams come back to win Super Bowl LVI 2320 in front of hometown crowd", "Minnesota Vikings Name Kevin O'Connell 10th Head Coach In Franchise History", "Minnesota Vikings officially hire 'innovative' Kevin O'Connell as new head coach", "Packers vs. Vikings - Box Score - September 11, 2020", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kevin_O%27Connell_(American_football)&oldid=1141660186, Career statistics and player information from, This page was last edited on 26 February 2023, at 04:43. Whatever the plan, timing is everything for the Vikings. The offensive line's sack rate, 4.5%, was the fifth-lowest in the NFL over the past two years. He is a genuinely positive person who will help create a high-energy internal environment.". The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. His team won 13 games and the NFLPA just said his teams culture was the best in the league. O'Connell won his first game as head coach against the Green Bay Packers in Week 1 of the 2022 season by a score of 237. Partnered with the USA TODAY Sports Media Group|Powered by, Signed a 1 year contract with Miami (MIA), Resigned a 2 year $1.25 million contract with New York (NYJ), Traded to NYJ from Detroit for a conditional draft pick, Signed a 4 year $2.46 million contract with New England (NE), Drafted by New England (NE): Round 3 (#94 overall). The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. Login Here. They were together in Washington and grew their connection this season as the veteran QB led eight game-winning drives, won the division for the first time since arriving in Minnesota and put together one of his best games in the playoffs vs. the Giants. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. If Levis or Richardson is the type of quarterback that answers those questions, the Vikings will likely do their best to move up. Scouting Combine live updates Top 150 free agents Beat writer . Kevin O'Connell: Vikings have 'some real decisions' ahead to get under salary cap By Alec Lewis Mar 1, 2023 14 INDIANAPOLIS Following his news conference Wednesday afternoon at the NFL. Kevin William O'Connell (born May 25, 1985), nicknamed " KOC ", [1] is an American football coach and former player who is the head coach for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). Vikings head coach Kevin OConnell provided a bit of clarity on Thielens status at the NFL Combine this week, touting the veterans leadership while hoping to mesh his pricetag with the fit in Minnesotas 2023 WR room. Its not always easy to maintain that, but I will never change from that because I just believe thats the way youre supposed to operate.. In addition to helping QB Jared Goff to his fourth consecutive of at least 3,800 passing yards and 20 touchdowns in 2020, O'Connell prepared QB John Wolford for a win-and-in game against the Cardinals in Week 17, helping him pass for 231 yards and rush for 56 more in his NFL debut, while leading the Rams to a 18-7 victory and a playoff berth. Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell and his wife Leah welcomed their fourth child to the family on Friday night, . Associated Press NFL Offensive Player of the Year, Top 10 Justin Jefferson plays | 2022 season, Vikings WR Justin Jefferson named AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah compares team building through draft vs. through free agency, trades. There was a mixed reaction to that pick. Michigan cornerback DJ Turner II is the early leader for fastest player at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine after posting a time of 4.26 seconds in the 40-yard dash on Friday. Following his All-Pro wideout's 1,809-yard, 128-catch, eight-touchdown campaign, Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell believes Justin Jefferson can soar even higher. This year brings a different scenario. INDIANAPOLIS Following his news conference Wednesday afternoon at the NFL Scouting Combine, Minnesota Vikings coach Kevin OConnell met with a small group of beat writers. "It's so easy from my background to sit in front of a spreadsheet and make decisions and talk about things. No cards were shown when OConnell was asked about Flores and the cornerback position as it pertains to the draft but it would appear that Flores will be looking for players with flexibility, whether thats in terms of position or skill set. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, The Sopranos, and The Doors (the band). Cousins' 4,093 passing yards marked his third-consecutive 4,000-yard passing season, helping him become the 11th quarterback in NFL history to accomplish this feat. Teams that typically played with one-high safety against most opponents often utilized two-high safeties against the Vikings. ", O'Connell said the next step is "a championship standard" and that he wanted to wrap his evaluations and dialogue about the 2022 season the "way it should, with the same type of connection" with players and the "foundational building blocks of what we want to be.
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