"Like [O'Connell] said in his final meeting, 'It's supposed to hurt. O'Connell is the latest in Sean McVay's coaching tree to land a head coaching job, following the likes of Matt LaFleur with the Green Bay Packers and Zac Taylor with the Bengals. But it was part of the process to find a long-term solution. ", "We've shown that we have a culture and an ability to do those things at a really high level," Adofo-Mensah said. Were having conversations with our players, their representation, and ultimately how all of those things shake out will be done in a way where we just want to make sure we stand by what we believe in as an organization.. Kentucky's Will Levis, a likely top-10 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, spoke Friday at the NFL Scouting Combine and -- in under 15 minutes -- presented himself as arguably the most self-assured QB in this year's class. The Vikings Will Benefit From Their Revamped Team Culture, Theres One Ideal Way To Deal With Danielle Hunters Contract. On August 31, 2010, New York released O'Connell. The idea. Players cited the tight-knit nature of the locker room and their confidence during late-game situations as a result of the buildings updated vibes under OConnell. Sure, there were unsightly losses along the way, including a couple of regular-season defeats to Philadelphia and Dallas teams that each won 12 plus in the regular season and have advanced to the Divisional Round of the NFC Playoffs. Kevin O'Connell Contract Breakdowns, Salary Cap Figures, Salaries Get a behind-the-scenes look at Vikings Head Coach Kevin O'Connell's media day last week at the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine. They needed more receivers on the field. 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. With their limited salary cap . The survey of more than 1,300 players that looked at numerous aspects of an organization from facilities to treatment of families to training staff gave the Vikings the highest grade of any team in the NFL. If O'Connell's staff likes a prospect like USC's Caleb Williams . 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. The Vikings need to clear $23 million of 2023 salary to get under the cap. 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. Vikings' offseason roster decisions will be difficult, but team leaders The offensive line's sack rate, 4.5%, was the fifth-lowest in the NFL over the past two years. O'Connell is the offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams, so he can't officially become the Vikings' new head coach until after the Super Bowl. Despite entering the league three years after Stafford, Cousins is also going into his age-34 season. 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. These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. Coming off a Super Bowl LVI victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, O'Connell joins the Vikings after serving as the offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams the past two seasons. "And then, sure enough, she ended up in the same place. Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell, wife Leah welcome fourth child There also were road losses at Detroit and Green Bay after the calendar flipped to December. New Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell, some two weeks after reaching an agreement with the club to replace Mike Zimmer, can finally wear some purple. Because we respect your right to privacy, you can choose not to allow some types of cookies. Furthermore, the Rams' 1,186 passing yards in the 2021 playoffs were the most in NFL history,surpassing the 2011 New York Giants (1,144).O'Connell helped Kupp (478) and Beckham, Jr., (288) post a combined 766 receiving yards in the playoffs, the most be any wide receiver duo this postseason. Kupp's wide receiver Triple Crown in 2021, which he won after leading the NFL in receptions (145), receiving yards (1,947) and touchdowns (16), joined him with WR Jerry Rice (San Francisco 49ers, 1990), WR Sterling Sharpe (Green Bay Packers, 1992) and WR Steve Smith (Carolina Panthers, 2005) as the only players since the 1970 merger to achieve this feat. That OConnell even cited this statistic demonstrates the team is thinking about how to fully maximize its offense. He and Adofo-Mensah greet each prospect when they enter the room both to establish their culture of care and provide other Vikings staffers in the room a glimpse at the players size. 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. Eagan, Minn. (February 15, 2022) The Minnesota Vikings have named Kevin O'Connell as the 10th head coach in franchise history. Vikings officially hire Rams OC Kevin O'Connell as new head coach - NFL.com [21] In 2019, under interim head coach Bill Callahan, O'Connell was promoted to offensive coordinator. Harrison Smith stats (2021): 73% completion % allowed, 98.7 QB rating allowed Already a projected $14 million over the 2022 NFL salary cap, the Vikings need to clear a ton of room. These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. The Minnesota Vikings have made the hiring of Kevin O'Connell as their new head coach official by sharing the news on social media. This website is not directly or indirectly affiliated, associated, or connected in any way to Major League Baseball, the National Basketball Association, the National Football League or the National Hockey League. 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.. He believes he's the best receiver in football -- I happen to agree with him -- and a lot goes with that. The Minnesota Vikings named Kevin O'Connell as the 10th head coach in franchise history on Feb. 16, 2022. So, ultimately, we didn't accomplish the goals we wanted to accomplish, and I always want to be respectful of that. He isnt on the same tier as Patrick Mahomes or Joe Burrow, but is good enough to hold down the position until they can find that player. With Robert Quinn, Cameron Jordan and Cameron Heyward still on the board, the Vikings decided to get their guy Christian Ponder. Minnesotas approach to their franchise quarterback seems much more scientific. There are some hard conversations sometimes. 4 takeaways from Vikings HC Kevin O'Connell's combine press conference O'Connell also helped the Rams offense tie for seventh in scoring offense (27.1 points per game) and score on 45.9% of their offensive drives, which ranked third in the NFL behind the Kansas City Chiefs (48.2) and New England Patriots (48.0). His teammates voted him as a captain for what he means not only to our organization but the Twin Cities. Thielen notched 716 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns in 2022. The Minnesota Vikings announced Wednesday that Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O'Connell has been hired as the 10th head coach in franchise history. 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. NFL footage NFL Productions LLC. Under the guidance of O'Connell, Rams QB Matthew Stafford and WR Cooper Kupp both had career years in 2021. 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. 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 (!!!) Commanders wide receiver Jahan Dotson is "fired up" to work with Washington's new offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy. A necessary condition is having a starter-level quarterback, Adofo-Mensah began. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. "One of my favorite players I've ever coached, I've told him that," O'Connell said of Jefferson. O'Connell, who led the Rams to finish ninth in total offense (372.1 yards per game) in 2021, 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. Cousins is entering the final year of his contract, and NFL Networks Tom Pelissero reported earlier in the week that he would not anticipate the type of one-year, fully-guaranteed extensions that the 35-year-old has signed in the past. But the biggest question on everybodys mind was what they were going to do with Kirk Cousins. Kevin O'Connell declines to say if Ed Donatell will return as Vikings Anchored by T Andrew Whitworth, the oldest offensive lineman in the NFL, the Rams offensive line only allowed 56 sacks in the two years O'Connell was in Los Angeles, which was good for the seventh-fewest among NFL clubs. Vikings Players Close Out Season with Locker Room Clean Out. 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. NFL.com keeps you up to date with all of the latest league news from around the NFL. Youve got to ask yourself the question: Why?. He was also born in Minnesota. In the early 1990s, Dennis Green used a revolving quarterback carousel that featured Jim McMahon, Warren Moon, Randall Cunningham, and Jeff George. Anchored by T Andrew Whitworth, the oldest offensive lineman in the NFL, the Rams offensive line only allowed 56 sacks in the two years O'Connell was in Los Angeles, which was good for the seventh-fewest among NFL clubs. 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. Visit NFL.com's transaction hub for a daily breakdown. Right comes along. O'Connell was claimed off waivers by the Detroit Lions on September 1, 2009. 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. O'Connell was claimed off waivers by the Jets on September 4, 2011.[16]. There was a mixed reaction to that pick. Aug 30 2009 Released by New England. "But as we reflect, I think it's important to understand, be honest with our evaluations, understand taking a look at all the little things no detail is too small in how we're trying to improve as a team, improve as a coaching staff, and most importantly, improve myself. [29]. Kevin O'Connell had some interesting things to say about the direction the Minnesota Vikings want to go as they look ahead to the 2023 NFL season. Rams OC Kevin O'Connell Finalizes Contract to Become Vikings Head Coach 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. It meets that first threshold, and thats a question that a lot of people cant answer with a yes. So we have got to make sure that we treat that in the proper importance it is.. If OConnells staff likes a prospect like USCs Caleb Williams or North Carolinas Drake Maye, they may be better served to wait especially with an aging team that will face a harder schedule in 2023. Meetings with general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and executive vice president of football operations Rob Brzezinski have helped OConnell in this regard. [17] He was released on August 12, 2012. There are times when hes mad and when Im mad. Quarterbacks are never far from OConnells mind. 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. Jan 19, 2023 at 10:00 AM. OConnell knows safety Harrison Smith has done much of the same. Vikings Trade Proposal Flips Cousins For 49ers Trey Lance | Heavy.com [How do you] round him to make sure that you can win that way? His net worth is somewhere between $30 million to $35 million. In the meantime, quarterbacks such as Heath Shuler, Trent Dilfer, and Jim Druckenmiller went off the board until Green finally saw a quarterback he liked in the 1999 draft, Daunte Culpepper. The Minnesota Vikings finalized their hiring of head coach Kevin O'Connell on Wednesday, completing a sharp offseason shift in direction by turning over the team to the 36-year-old. Asked about the Vikings long-term future at that position, OConnell said he surveys the landscape of the position each year out of habit. While the survey is the ultimate feather in OConnells cap in terms of retaining players on long-term contracts and signing free agents, hes aware that not everyone is going to be able to return and the team doesn't have oodles of cap space to spend this offseason. Thielen will turn 33 this summer and incur a $19.9 million cap hit against the Vikings salary cap. 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. I am committed to working tirelessly to bring them a Super Bowl championship.". Theres a reason why I feel so strongly about Kirk, OConnell said. 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. Before the Super Bowl, Thielen said onESPNsFirst Take, I want to retire a Viking. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. in the 2012 draft. "I think we showed a building full of people, players, coaches, staff, ownership group, this guy next to me, would have the ability to be their best when their best is required. What was initially pitched as a competitive rebuild and trying to win on the margins morphed into setting an NFL record for the most one-score wins in a season (11-0) thanks to players who were led to become situational masters at key moments of close games. Follow Alec on Twitter @alec_lewis. Right. 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. In terms of the things that were different in 2022, the most noticeable were the approach to camp and preseason workloads, managing injuries and how players who were recovering from injuries were talked about publicly and the buy-in to quarterback Kirk Cousins. 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. The numbers bear out OConnells observation. . OConnell explained Wednesday that that process ranged from reviewing game-management decisions to gauging his teams success in various schemes and plays. We laugh. Along the way, personal relationships grew. Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports. You won't want to miss a moment of the 2022 season! [2], O'Connell played in both the 2008 Hula Bowl and the 2008 East-West Shrine Game. Top Salaries Free Agents Extensions Tools Best Values Transactions Chargers Kevin O'Connell Embed This Chargers, QB Age: 37-208d Exp: Years Drafted: Round 3 (#94 overall), 2008 College: San Diego State Agent (s): - More Chargers - Contract Details Transactions Statistics Transactions Sep 4 2011 Claimed off waivers by New York (NYJ) None of that means anything for what we do moving forward if we dont grow and evolve and change in a good capacity, OConnell said. General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah noted Tuesday that inking the wideout to a new contract is a "high priority. 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. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. But the. Those are all questions we got to answer. 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. All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com. We haven't shown our ability to come in year-in, year-out and do those things. From Week 14 through the wild-card loss to the Giants, the Vikings faced 190 snaps against defenses that played with the middle of the field open, by far the highest in the league during that period. Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell and his wife Leah welcomed their fourth child to the family on Friday night, . - Page 5 . But I did want to take the time to reflect and to move forward in the right way," O'Connell said. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Kevin O'Connell have only held their posts for a year, but they deserve the faith of the Vikings community. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Photo Credit: Kirby Lee (USA TODAY Sports). Adofo-Mensah also stated that there are a lot of other factors to consider what type of quarterback the Vikings could be looking for. When Kwesi Adofo-Mensah stepped up to the podium at the NFL Scouting Combine, he had several questions to answer about the Minnesota Vikings future. [12] Following his departure, O'Connell found that he had a torn labrum in his throwing arm, an injury he sustained during the preseason. 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. 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. 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.. Vikings Kevin O'Connell and Kwesi Adofo-Mensah have a long to-do list Not only schematically, how people play against you, but the responsibility he has as a role model. A significant part of the positive culture was OConnell and Cousins working together in lockstep. And I also want my opportunity to show that I can play at a high level. "But I wouldn't say that we're that established, 'there' team because we haven't shown it yet. 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. Heck, it was even over 70 degrees outside. 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. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. Eagan, Minn. (February 15, 2022) - The Minnesota Vikings have named Kevin O'Connell as the 10th head coach in franchise history. ", "Making sure that the standard of knowing we've got the culture, knowing we've got the right things going in this building," O'Connell said. Kevin O'Connell Updates Adam Thielen's Status with Vikings Since then, there have been postseason appearances after the 2012 (loss in Wild Card), 2015 (loss in Wild Card), 2017 (loss in NFC Championship), 2019 (loss in Divisional) and 2022 (loss in Wild Card) seasons. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. 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! 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. Will that happen? 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. Vikings officially name Kevin O'Connell their new head coach 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. Wide receiver Adam Thielens cap number and age (32) present another complicated decision, and OConnell is mindful of the many factors. Right. He was 11-of-21 for 147 yards, and completed the pass which resulted in the Kai's only score of the game.[6]. [13] The injury required surgery. 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.