2023 Minnesota Vikings Football, LLC , All Rights Reserved. "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. 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. Thats because talking about culture is a good way to spend time talking about anything else other than upcoming decisions, draft philosophies, scheme changes etc. He called conversations ongoing about Cousinss future. OConnell is well aware. OConnell continued, Adam is one of those leaders that I speak of. The coach has made it a priority to educate himself on the particulars of the teams cap constraints. That ultimately led the Vikings to Cousins. Thielen will turn 33 this summer and incur a $19.9 million cap hit against the Vikings salary cap. 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. A year later, they have far more expertise of the Vikings' roster. Whatever the plan, timing is everything for the Vikings. 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. "Justin just had an incredible year, but what I liked about it the most was just the impactful plays at critical moments he made for our team, among a lot of our players," O'Connell said. "This is a franchise with a deep history and a tremendous fan base. Try a week on us. ", "As I spent time with Kevin during the interview process, it became immediately clear he will be a great partner in building this football team for long-term success," said Vikings General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. O'Connell and the Rams are coming. You won't want to miss a moment of the 2022 season! Wanting to make those guys feel like their coach cares about them, both the person and the player, and their future, its real, OConnell said. With Cousins in his mid-30s, the Vikings need to figure out a succession plan at quarterback. 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. The Minnesota Vikings named Kevin O'Connell as the 10th head coach in franchise history on Feb. 16, 2022. . ", "I don't want to be the Vikings GM without this guy on our team, so it's a priority," Adofo-Mensah said. The idea. Vikings to hire Kevin O'Connell after being turned down by Jim Harbaugh 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.. O'Connell graduated from San Diego State University in December 2007 with a degree in political science. 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 by a Rams quarterback with 41, while also winning his first playoff game in his 13th season in the NFL. It's supposed to sting.' Scouting Combine live updates Top 150 free agents Beat writer . If not, they could ride Cousins another year and try their luck to acquire their guy in 2024. 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. And trading him post June 1 would save the team $35 million of that against their cap. 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.. Theres a reason I feel so strongly about Kirk. Quarterbacks are never far from OConnells mind. The Vikings Are Still Trying To Find Mr. Right At QB That, more than anything, is what OConnell wants to eliminate. The Vikings left the Zimmer-Spielman era in desperate need of improved morale. 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. Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell spoke at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine on Wednesday, March 1, and he shed a little bit of light on what the team's goals are for the offseason. These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. Kevin O'Connell Updates Adam Thielen's Status with Vikings As a player, O'Connell was drafted in the third round (94th pick) of the 2008 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots out of San Diego State. Those are things we got to answer. 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'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. 2. Predictability, then, provides comfort to defenses. Right comes along. 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. 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. 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. There also were road losses at Detroit and Green Bay after the calendar flipped to December. Is it to that standard? The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. Already Subscribed? However, blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Kevin O'Connell have only held their posts for a year, but they deserve the faith of the Vikings community. . 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. . NFL footage NFL Productions LLC. The Minnesota Vikings announced Wednesday that Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O'Connell has been hired as the 10th head coach in franchise history. [27][28] O'Connell's Vikings hiring reunited him with quarterback Kirk Cousins, whom O'Connell had coached in 2017 (Cousins' final year with the Washington Redskins). "And then, sure enough, she ended up in the same place. Kevin O'Connell Salary, Net Worth, Offensive Scheme - ABTC 2023 Minnesota Vikings Football, LLC , All Rights Reserved. Different quarterbacks require different things around them but we know for sure that [Cousins] meets that threshold. 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. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. He also held the same position for Washington in 2019 after serving as the team'spassing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach. 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.. 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? Rams OC Kevin O'Connell Finalizes Contract to Become Vikings Head Coach 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. The Vikings Will Benefit From Their Revamped Team Culture, Theres One Ideal Way To Deal With Danielle Hunters Contract. Coming off a Super Bowl LVI victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, O'Connell. 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. Linebacker Eric Kendricks referred to a fear-based culture in a conference call after the former HC and GM were let go and players acknowledged meeting with ownership in which they asked for improvements in the overall environment. Click on the different category headings to find out more and change our default settings. 4. But the. 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. 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. ", "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. His net worth is somewhere between $30 million to $35 million. 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) The Vikings officially. He was 11-of-21 for 147 yards, and completed the pass which resulted in the Kai's only score of the game.[6]. 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 August 31, 2010, New York released O'Connell. Schad covers the Minnesota Vikings for Zone Coverage. 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. 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' Kevin O'Connell Expects Kirk Cousins Back In 2022 A significant part of the positive culture was OConnell and Cousins working together in lockstep. To see the rest of the Kevin O'Connell's contract breakdowns, & gain access to all of Spotrac's Premium tools, sign up today. Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett spoke with media members on Friday for the first time since his arrest for public intoxication in late January. 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. 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. Follow us for breaking news and latest updates. "He has a tremendous football IQ and is passionate about preparing, developing and communicating with his players. O'Connell compared Cousins to Matthew Stafford, calling each an "elite thrower," via Tomasson (on Twitter ). As we did on Tuesday with Vikings general manager Kwesi. Aug 30 2009 Released by New England. "But I wouldn't say that we're that established, 'there' team because we haven't shown it yet. The assessments of inherited players were made a year ago through film study and advanced metrics. The numbers bear out OConnells observation. 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. 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 are coming off a 13-win season, but also a disappointing first-round exit in the playoffs. 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). document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Photo Credit: Kirby Lee (USA TODAY Sports). The 2020 Rams offense featured the 10th-ranked rushing attack, posting 126.1 yards per game on the ground, behind two 600-plus rushing seasons from RB Cam Akers and RB Darrell Henderson. Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. The victories and records set on the way to winning the NFC North for the first time since 2017 enabled Minnesota to host a playoff game for the first time in five years, but that excitement ended abruptly Sunday when the Giants topped the Vikings 31-24. 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. "Reflecting on what we were able to accomplish as a football team an NFC North title and 13 wins it goes beyond that. 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. [10], He was named a team captain for the September 20 game against the New England Patriots.[11]. The last remaining head coach opening in the NFL has been filled. "I greatly appreciate the Wilf family, Kwesi and the entire Minnesota Vikings organization for providing the opportunity to be their next head coach," said O'Connell. 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. He grew up in Birmingham, Ala., and has written for Yahoo, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and the Kansas City Star, among many other places. Because we respect your right to privacy, you can choose not to allow some types of cookies. He is a genuinely positive person who will help create a high-energy internal environment.". We laugh. 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. I know this guy next to me and myself will lead and push and drive, because we don't want to feel this way, this early, ever again. Despite entering the league three years after Stafford, Cousins is also going into his age-34 season. If you do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited our site, and will not be able to monitor its performance. Its still something I think about often, OConnell said of the loss to the Giants. Some would take this as a sign the Vikings are ready to move on. Armando Salguero: Kevin O'Connell Believes Vikings Are Really - OutKick O'Connell led the Vikings to a 134 record on the season, tying Matt LaFleur and Jim Harbaugh for the second-most wins for a rookie head coach in NFL history. The Vikings had several needs coming off a 15-win season in 1998. Looking back on Vikings history, they have stumbled trying to find a franchise quarterback. Set to earn just $2.399 million in 2023, with a potential fifth-year team option in 2024, Jefferson is due a massive pay increase in line with his value. 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.. KSTPs Darren Wolfson reported that the Vikings met with Florida manI meanquarterback Anthony Richardson at the scouting combine and OConnell is keen on Kentucky quarterback Will Levis despite his Orlovskian food takes. Thielen notched 716 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns in 2022. Kevin O'Connell declines to say if Ed Donatell will return as Vikings It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. Minnesota Vikings' Kevin O'Connell 'excited to coach' Kirk Cousins in 2022. . Will that happen? They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. Since the start of 2019, Thielen ranks fifth in the NFL in touchdown receptions (36), trailing only Davante Adams (48), Mike Evans (41), Tyreek Hill (38), and Travis Kelce (37). Kevin O'Connell: Vikings have 'some real decisions' ahead to get under That OConnell even cited this statistic demonstrates the team is thinking about how to fully maximize its offense. The Vikings tried to identify another quarterback when trading up for Teddy Bridgewater in 2014. 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. Sometimes how you have to reinvent yourself week in and week out, OConnell said. 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). Behind The Scenes of Kevin O'Connell's Media Day at The Combine He later reiterated his own self reflection following the season, saying there were a lot of phases looking at everything from how game-management and play-calling tie together to how they handle all the aspects of players schedules to the scheme. Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports. Vikings officially hire Rams OC Kevin O'Connell as new head coach - NFL.com This information might be about you, your preferences or your device and is mostly used to make the site work as you expect it to. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. Really excited about Lewis and his mental growth through how he handled the adversity of that injury, OConnell said. 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. He also writes for Bring Me The News and The Viking Age and hosts The Homer Horn Podcast. View photos of new Vikings Head Coach Kevin O'Connell in photos from his time with the Rams. Were in a position to do a lot of different things regardless of field position, score of the game, personnel groupings.. 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.com keeps you up to date with all of the latest league news from around the NFL. 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. When you visit any web site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. As a four-year captain at San Diego State, O'Connell finished his career after appearing in 40 games while ranking third in completions (664), fourth in passing yards (7,689) and fifth in passing touchdowns (46) in school history. Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell, wife Leah welcome fourth child [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. KARE 11 Sports Director. 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. O'Connell was asked today if Donatell will be back and didn't . converting part of right tackle Brian O'Neill's base salary to a signing bonus. All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. 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. 2023 Minnesota Vikings Football, LLC , All Rights Reserved. "Unbelievable talent. The home runs and long ones are great, but as a play caller, Id love to be second-and-5. 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..
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