Doing so could mean some hard decisions on key contributors from last season like Dalvin Cook, Eric Kendricks, ZaDarius Smith and others. This organization saw a shift in how it was being defended from previous years to this year, OConnell said. Stafford set the single-season team record for passing yards (4,886) and tied Kurt Warner from his 1999 MVP season for the most passing touchdowns in a season with 41, while also winning his first playoff game in his 13th season in the NFL. Kevin is currently the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings and his salary is $84 million for three years. "Like [O'Connell] said in his final meeting, 'It's supposed to hurt. Sometimes how you have to mold and adapt how you play while still staying true to your football philosophy at its core and its not always easy to do, but hes demonstrated that hes been very successful doing it time and time again.. Is it to that line?' In July 2017, Kirk Cousins became the first quarterback to play under the franchise tag for the second consecutive year. The Minnesota Vikings named Kevin O'Connell as the 10th head coach in franchise history on Feb. 16, 2022. . And I also want my opportunity to show that I can play at a high level. "One of them said that she had been a long-time Vikings fan and always felt let down, and this team felt different to her," Adofo-Mensah said. That, more than anything, is what OConnell wants to eliminate. The Vikings are coming off a 13-win season, but also a disappointing first-round exit in the playoffs. Vikings fans should be excited for the future of this team under Kevin's direction. There was a mixed reaction to that pick. Maybe its not even for any one particular year.. OConnell did note that safety Lewis Cine was ahead of schedule in his rehab from a severe leg injury suffered in London last season and that Cine has been at TCO Performance Center making regular stop-ins to his office. 4 takeaways from Vikings HC Kevin O'Connell's combine press conference 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. His net worth is somewhere between $30 million to $35 million. At the end of the day Wednesday, the Vikings head coach left the building with one of the easier media sessions youll ever run across in the NFL. He noted that hes always going to evaluate all the quarterbacks out of habit and that he finds himself often looking at evaluations from years past, even when someone is coming available who came out in the draft a long time ago. ", "We've shown that we have a culture and an ability to do those things at a really high level," Adofo-Mensah said. Spielman tried his hand at it, scouting Carson Strong and praising Malik Willis response to an overrated chant one year ago. 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. Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett spoke with media members on Friday for the first time since his arrest for public intoxication in late January. But it was part of the process to find a long-term solution. If not, they have the luxury of having Cousins to buy more time. My main goal was to connect with (Cousins) and build on a relationship, OConnell said. And in 2022, Cousins is scheduled to cost the Vikings $45 million on their salary cap. Pelissero noted that Brown, who interviewed for the Miami Dolphins head coaching position, is considered a "rising assistant" and is a candidate to replace O'Connell in Los Angeles. [4][5] At SDSU, where he was a four-year team captain, he started 21 games, the sixth-most among SDSU quarterbacks, and ranked first in school history in career rushing yards and second in career rushing touchdowns among quarterbacks; in 2007 he led the team in rushing yards. Certainly the facilities would have gotten an A+ last year but its hard to imagine they would have ranked No. 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. Kevin O'Connell Offensive Scheme Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator, Kevin O'Connell has been chosen to become head coach of the Minnesota Vikings officially after the Super Bowl on February 13, according to the NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell and his wife Leah welcomed their fourth child to the family on Friday night, . What I was really impressed with Justin this year was the leadership, the next step. Its even stronger now. Visit NFL.com's transaction hub for a daily breakdown. Vikings Head Coach Kevin O'Connell in Photos, Kevin OConnell Brings Energy, Innovation as Vikings New Head Coach, 5 Things to Know About New Vikings Head Coach Kevin OConnell. Vikings finalize hire of champion Rams OC Kevin O'Connell . With Robert Quinn, Cameron Jordan and Cameron Heyward still on the board, the Vikings decided to get their guy Christian Ponder. [29]. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. It comes down to efficiency, he said. pic.twitter.com/WKHqPZU8ea, Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) March 1, 2023. These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. The Minnesota Vikings named Kevin O'Connell as the 10th head coach in franchise history on Feb. 16, 2022. [3] O'Connell graduated from La Costa Canyon in 2003. Alabama quarterback Bryce Young, whose size has been a matter of conjecture in the run-up to the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine, officially measured in at 5-foot-10 1/8 and 204 pounds on Saturday. But even if he didnt injure his knee at Winter Park, its fair to wonder if he would have ever become the long-term franchise quarterback. O'Connell was selected by the New England Patriots in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft and played quarterback at San Diego State University. But in Kevin O'Connell's case on Wednesday, he was able to beam about the Vikings' culture after an NFL Players Association survey showed proof that he made good on the cultural promises he. Right. During the 2021 season, O'Connell's lone season with Stafford, the signal caller threw for the third-most passing yards (4,886) and second-most touchdowns (41) in the NFL, all while achieving his career-best 102.9 passer rating (in seasons with more than eight starts), the sixth-best in the NFL. One of the last times I spoke with you [after roster reductions to 53], I was up here, and I think someone told me my appearance was a little more dour than it normally is and that was because that was two emotional days of having to tell people no and having to say, 'Your dream is stopped for the day.' The Minnesota Vikings named Kevin O'Connell as the 10th head coach in franchise history on Feb. 16, 2022. On August 5, 2011, O'Connell signed with the Miami Dolphins, but was waived on September 3. O'Connell was waived by the Patriots on August 30, 2009, two days after a preseason game in which starting quarterback Tom Brady was injured, and, in the second half, O'Connell threw two interceptions and only threw 3 completions on 10 attempts. [2] At La Costa Canyon, O'Connell lettered in both football and basketball. 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. But the things we did accomplish, I think, were incredibly impactful. Browse our online application for MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL, EPL, or MLS player contracts, salaries, transactions, and more. Under the guidance of O'Connell, Rams QB Matthew Stafford and WR Cooper Kupp both had career years in 2021. ", "Kevin is an impressive and respected leader who has been a part of some explosive offensive schemes," said Vikings Owner/Chairman Zygi Wilf. Ive spent a lot of time with Rob [Brzezinski] and Kwesi [Adofo-Mensah], and well continue to do that in anticipation of being at a certain place by the league year like we need to be and then, How do we go forward building it from there?. The Vikings need to clear $23 million of 2023 salary to get under the cap. If not, they could ride Cousins another year and try their luck to acquire their guy in 2024. The Dallas Cowboys will place the franchise tag on running back Tony Pollard if the two sides cannot reach a long-term deal before March 7's deadline, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Friday, per sources. 3 Minnesota Vikings offseason moves with Kevin O'Connell - Sportsnaut But I did want to take the time to reflect and to move forward in the right way," O'Connell said. Is it to that standard? The coach has made it a priority to educate himself on the particulars of the teams cap constraints. Thats the byproduct of trying to do things the way we do. 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). Before his NFL career ended in 2012, O'Connell spent time with the Miami Dolphins, a second-stint with the Jets and the San Diego Chargers. He played one season for the Patriots behind QB Matt Cassel following a season-ending injury to QB Tom Brady. Kevin O'Connell who is one of the richest football quarterbacks has an estimated net worth of $5 million. Adofo-Mensah was hired on Jan. 26, 2022 and O'Connell was named head coach on Feb. 16 after the Rams beat the Bengals in the Super Bowl. He categorized the current state of rushing in the NFL into three separate strategies: deploying a running quarterback, operating in the run-pass option world, and going the traditional route with run-pass deception from under center. But Kevin OConnells comments later in the week made it sound like something bigger was in the works. When you visit any web site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. In football, as a junior, he passed for 980 yards and seven touchdowns. As we use the process of free agency and the draft to really take a look at how to evolve and fit what we want to do.. O'Connell's NFL coaching career began in 2015; he held various assistant coaching roles on the Cleveland Browns, San Francisco 49ers, Washington Redskins, and Los Angeles Rams (where he won Super Bowl LVI, as offensive coordinator, in the 20212022 season). Kevin O'Connell: Vikings have 'some real decisions' ahead to get under O'Connell compared Cousins to Matthew Stafford, calling each an "elite thrower," via Tomasson (on Twitter ). One thing he knows is that no matter how many As he got in a survey or wins he posted as a first-year coach, that doesnt mean they can do it all again the same way and get the same results. Aside from the quarterback situation which is like talking about building a house and saying other than the ground it stands on the Vikings will also consider the wants/needs/system of Brian Flores as they look for improvement on defense. And when I think about all that went into it, from a coaching staff standpoint, our players, our leadership of our core leaders and foundation of such a great leadership group that I was able to have in my first year as a head coach in the National Football League, I truly feel very fortunate and blessed," O'Connell added. Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson put on a show Saturday at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine, making history during his highly anticipated workout. The idea. O'Connell worked on special projects with the San Francisco 49ers in 2016, where he overlapped with Vikings General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. In his first season as the Vikings' coach, O'Connell has compiled a 6-1 record and the team has a 3.5-game lead in the NFC North entering Week 9. Really excited about Lewis and his mental growth through how he handled the adversity of that injury, OConnell said. 5. KARE 11 Sports Director. O'Connell, who led the Rams to finish ninth in total offense (372.1 yards per game) this season, helped his unit rank second in plays of 50-plus yards (10), fourth in yards per play (5.98) and eighth in offensive touchdowns (51) in 2021. None of that is to say OConnell is not evaluating quarterbacks in this years draft. Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell isn't saying if Ed Donatell will return as defensive coordinator for the 2023 season. Follow Alec on Twitter @alec_lewis. O'Connell and the Rams are coming off a victory in Super Bowl LVI against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. He made his NFL debut on September 21, 2008, in the fourth quarter against the Miami Dolphins, throwing his first four career passes and completing three. [12] Following his departure, O'Connell found that he had a torn labrum in his throwing arm, an injury he sustained during the preseason. They worked with players they inherited, quickly assessing who was set to return and how to try to add pieces they deemed missing through a strategic approach to free agency and proceeding through the 2022 NFL Draft. Right. Its just not possible when sitting $24 million over the cap (per OverTheCap.com) to bring all the veterans back. View photos of new Vikings Head Coach Kevin O'Connell in photos from his time with the Rams. How do you go forward building it from here? I think theres a conversation to be had to really see what that looks like: playing time and roles and responsibilities., "I feel better than I ever have about our chances moving forward." The Vikings were unable to officially announce that they were hiring O'Connell until after Los Angeles' playoff run came to an end. Already Subscribed? "That's what led to a historic number of one-score games and so that's probably been the hardest job is adjusting to those things. The personnel department continued to be on the lookout for players who became available after their release by other teams, and the coaching staff usually helped integrate the acquired player quickly, whether it was Za'Darius Smith in Week 1 or T.J. Hockenson in Week 9. The Wilfs and the resources they give us to bring in the people, like [exectuive director of player health and performance] Tyler Williams, OConnell said. Will that happen? O'Connell was instrumental in aiding mid-season free agent signee WR Odell Beckham, Jr., to five receiving touchdowns in eight games played with the team, the most since his 2018 season with theNew York Giants. Meetings with general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and executive vice president of football operations Rob Brzezinski have helped OConnell in this regard. "He has a tremendous football IQ and is passionate about preparing, developing and communicating with his players. "When you involve people, it can make the job a lot tougher, but I also think the people aspect is what culture is and that's important," Adofo-Mensah added. But in Kevin OConnells case on Wednesday, he was able to beam about the Vikings culture after an NFL Players Association survey showed proof that he made good on the cultural promises he made at the last NFL Combine. And its even stronger now, OConnell said. An NFLPA survey showed the Vikings as the best team for players in the league, bringing evidence that the changes they promised worked out, gave the Vikings the highest grade of any team in the NFL. O'Connell coached QB Kirk Cousins in 2017, helping him throw for more than 4,000 yards and 27 touchdowns, and record a career-high 342 rushing yards and a league-leading four game-winning drives. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah & Kevin O'Connell Begin 2023 Vikings Standard I believe in him as a player.. My main goal was just to connect with him and build on a relationship that I thought was strong already. We haven't shown our ability to come in year-in, year-out and do those things. 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). They want tostart every game, lead their team to the playoffs, win a Super Bowl, [but] a lot goes into what it takes to do that.. He also writes for Bring Me The News and The Viking Age and hosts The Homer Horn Podcast. "Unbelievable talent. But its hard not to wonder what would have happened if he looked ahead, saw Andrew Luck on the horizon and just rode the corpse of Donovan McNabb to the finish line to select Luck, Russell Wilson, or Cousins (!!!) Similarly to his GM one day earlier, the Vikings head coach couldnt make a strong statement about what the future would hold at QB. The Vikings Are Still Trying To Find Mr. Right At QB Even as other quarterbacks such as Willis, Desmond Ridder, and Sam Howell were there in the latest rounds of the draft, the Vikings didnt pull the trigger. I think that's where we want to go eventually," Adofo-Mensah continued. Kevin O'Connell declines to say if Ed Donatell will return as Vikings So how will he balance the desire to maximize the benefits of the culture, keep the players who helped him implement it and improve on last season while dealing with the facts of life in a salary cap league? [21] In 2019, under interim head coach Bill Callahan, O'Connell was promoted to offensive coordinator. While OConnell answered gracefully about his colleague, it was a reminder that they didnt finish the year with a deep playoff run. converting part of right tackle Brian O'Neill's base salary to a signing bonus. Fired up to watch these guys this fall @b_petty14 @DWatford5 @EverettGolson @Connor_Cook03 @tannerlee12 @bharrisqb1 pic.twitter.com/2TNR1YJlHt Vikings Players Close Out Season with Locker Room Clean Out. Rams OC Kevin O'Connell Finalizes Contract to Become Vikings Head Coach OConnell knows safety Harrison Smith has done much of the same. 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. OConnell, though, sounded committed to making it work. "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.". While they can feel reinforced by the results of the foundation laid in their first year, they also know a multitude of decisions await and all teams change from year to year. NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports that the Vikings plan on interviewing Rams assistant head coach/running backs coach Thomas Brown for their offensive coordinator position under O'Connell. "We have to make sure we do it in an order that we can do it in given all the other decisions we have to make.". 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. That OConnell even cited this statistic demonstrates the team is thinking about how to fully maximize its offense. The Minnesota Vikings announced Wednesday that Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O'Connell has been hired as the 10th head coach in franchise history. This time of year tends to be a difficult time when youre talking about players futures and how they affect the greater picture of our team, and those conversations are ongoing, he said. View images from the Vikings locker room at TCO Performance Center on Monday as players cleaned out their lockers at the end of the 2022-23 season. He was also born in Minnesota. O'Connell and Adofo-Mensah have emphasized collaboration throughout their first year together, and the first-time head coach picked up where the first-time GM left off: "As I told our team it's supposed to sting. However, neither seem like a good option now. The Washington Commanders took Cousins in the []. Having been on the visitors' sideline at U.S. Bank Stadium and experiencing that environment as an opposing coach, I am excited to now have the support of these passionate Vikings fans. During the 2009 preseason, O'Connell was claimed by the Detroit Lions and was then later traded to the New York Jets for a seventh-round pick. "This is a franchise with a deep history and a tremendous fan base. Schad covers the Minnesota Vikings for Zone Coverage. O'Connell, 36, was a third-round pick . However, blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer. 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. But in between 16-point wins against the Packers in Week 1 and Bears in Week 18 were plentiful memorable moments during a wild ride. Vikings Trade Proposal Flips Cousins For 49ers Trey Lance | Heavy.com If you tell me Im second-and-5, here we go. "One of my favorite players I've ever coached, I've told him that," O'Connell said of Jefferson. 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. Scouting Combine live updates Top 150 free agents Beat writer . Kevin O'Connell Contract Breakdowns, Salary Cap Figures, Salaries Following his All-Pro wideout's 1,809-yard, 128-catch, eight-touchdown campaign, Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell believes Jefferson can soar even higher. Vikings Name Kevin O'Connell Head Coach - Minnesota Vikings He's McVay's second coordinator in two years to move on, joiningformer Rams defensive coordinator Brandon Staley, who is now head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers. To better myself and make sure I'm doing everything that I can in this role that I feel so lucky to have and also so prepared to have. This is also a business. But Minnesota watched as Cam Newton, Jake Locker, and Blaine Gabbert flew off the board. Kevin O'Connell Updates Adam Thielen's Status with Vikings Those are things we got to answer. Quarterback Mike White said he'd like to return to the New York Jets, but knows it might not happen as he heads toward free agency. 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. In 2019, O'Connell helped guide rookie WR Terry McLaurin to 58 receptions, 919 receiving yards and seven touchdowns, the second-most receptions and third-most receiving yards and touchdowns among rookies in franchise history. INDIANAPOLIS If you walk around to different podiums and listen to NFL coaches speak to the media about their teams offseasons, you are likely to hear a lot about culture. Even if the Vikings agree to a long-term extension, they seem to be willing to wait until their version of Mr. The more I can learn about details and particulars of our current situation, previous situations and what it looks like moving forward, OConnell said, the more my conversations can not only come from an accurate place of where we are but where we hope to get to.. But there was a sobering line of questioning from a New York reporter pertaining to Giants head coach Brian Daboll. OConnell explained Wednesday that that process ranged from reviewing game-management decisions to gauging his teams success in various schemes and plays. Vikings officially hire Rams OC Kevin O'Connell as new head coach - NFL.com I think the priority first and foremost is giving him time to evaluate our roster with our young players and some of our veteran players and see how pieces may fit, 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. I believe in him as a player and was really proud of the way he played this year but we always have to be evaluating, he said. NFL+ gives you the freedom to watch LIVE out-of-market preseason games, LIVE local and primetime regular season and postseason games on your phone or tablet, the best NFL programming on-demand, and MORE! The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. Finding a suitable compromise appears to be the current strategy. The obvious answer? The Vikings won the NFC North for the first time since 2017, which was good enough for the NFC's third seed, but were defeated by the New York Giants in the Wild Card round by a final score of 3124. On Tuesday, Adofo-Mensah explained that Cousins camp wants certainty if he is to sign a new deal, while the Vikings seek flexibility. [22] After the 201920 regular season, O'Connell was not retained by the incoming new head coach, Ron Rivera. Prior to his one year in San Francisco, O'Connell was the quarterbacks coach in Cleveland during the 2015 season, assisting QB Josh McCown to becoming the only player in team history to throw for 300 or more passing yards in three consecutive games. I'm sure a lot of fans will be going through that right now, and that hurts to hear, I can't lie, but I understand where that's coming from. [19], O'Connell was hired to the offensive staff of the San Francisco 49ers on February 26, 2016. The Vikings tried to identify another quarterback when trading up for Teddy Bridgewater in 2014.