O'Connell's father, Bill, was a longtime FBI agent, and his mother, Suzanne, is a teacher. In addition to impacting the culture within the building through an emphasis on building connectivity across the roster, the Vikings installed O'Connell's offense with Offensive Coordinator Wes Phillips, a defensive system led by Defensive Coordinator Ed Donatell and changed their special teams under first-year coordinator Matt Daniels. Right. However, blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer. Follow us for breaking news and latest updates. 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. We laugh. 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. These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. 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. During the 2018 season, O'Connell was tasked with getting three different quarterbacks (Josh Johnson, Colt McCoy and Mark Sanchez) up to speed following a devastating injury to starting QB Alex Smith. 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. 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. Craig Peters. "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. 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. 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. Vikings Players Close Out Season with Locker Room Clean Out. That, more than anything, is what OConnell wants to eliminate. 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. A lot of guys come in here and say they want to start in the NFL on Day 1. "And then, sure enough, she ended up in the same place. O'Connell and the Rams are coming. 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. "He understands what is critical to leading a team that wins at the highest level, and he has an ability to simplify the complex, which will help us in problem-solving in all football areas. 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. In football, as a junior, he passed for 980 yards and seven touchdowns. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. I just watch the way he carries himself every single day and week. 3. Culpeppers injury took the Vikings into another dark period where they took a quarterback because they needed one. Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. The Vikings officially. That was somebody that was as important as anybody for me to bring to this organization I didnt know there was going to be a survey, it didnt matter to me, but I knew what that would look like with Tyler, Kwesi and myself and how we build things.. ", 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. The 33-year-old quarterback's $35 million base salary for 2022 became guaranteed last March . 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. 2. I believe in him as a player.. [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). 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. Head coach Kevin O'Connell of the Minnesota Vikings speaks to the media during the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 1, 2023 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Beyond the Xs and Os, everyone we spoke with throughout this search process spoke highly of Kevin's ability to motivate players, coaches and staff. But the things we did accomplish, I think, were incredibly impactful. 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. Is it to that line?' The numbers bear out OConnells observation. [21] In 2019, under interim head coach Bill Callahan, O'Connell was promoted to offensive coordinator. 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.. Predictability, then, provides comfort to defenses. [29]. When Favre finally declined, the Vikings were in another spot of desperation to draft a quarterback in 2011. However, there is no mistaking the reality. Some believe that is too rich for an aging playmaker and have subsequently speculated about Thielens fate in 2023. Before the Super Bowl, Thielen said onESPNsFirst Take, I want to retire a Viking. 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! Right comes along. 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. O'Connell worked on special projects with the San Francisco 49ers in 2016, where he overlapped with Vikings General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. Just scratching the surface with #18 pic.twitter.com/MpWlPV7MoN, And then, ultimately, OConnell said, youve got to ask: How do we use that information to our advantage moving forward?. How long does he meet that threshold? The last remaining head coach opening in the NFL has been filled. Kevin will tease me about that sometimes. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. Adofo-Mensah, who previously worked on Wall Street, was asked to assess where the Vikings stock is. So have expectations going forward, until "someday" can become "the day.". His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. The direct work together began in April when Minnesota could start its offseason workout program and was followed by Organized Team Activities before a summer break that was followed by training camp, he preseason, regular season and postseason. "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. Doing so could mean some hard decisions on key contributors from last season like Dalvin Cook, Eric Kendricks, ZaDarius Smith and others. 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. Weve got some real decisions to talk through and things to work through, OConnell said. The Lions traded O'Connell to the New York Jets, for a 7th round 2011 draft pick, on September 6, 2009. And its even stronger now, OConnell said. 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. The Patriots gave no explanation for releasing O'Connell, who was in competition with veteran quarterback Andrew Walter, signed after his release from the Oakland Raiders, and undrafted free agent rookie Brian Hoyer of Michigan State. Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports. Theres a reason why I feel so strongly about Kirk, OConnell said. INDIANAPOLIS -- Justin Jefferson led the NFL in receiving yards and receptions in 2022 while averaging 106.4 yards per game. Not only schematically, how people play against you, but the responsibility he has as a role model. The home runs and long ones are great, but as a play caller, Id love to be second-and-5. Looking back on Vikings history, they have stumbled trying to find a franchise quarterback. 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. O'Connell has an older sister, Kelly, who is an attorney. Maybe its not even for any one particular year.. If not, they have the luxury of having Cousins to buy more time. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. In July 2017, Kirk Cousins became the first quarterback to play under the franchise tag for the second consecutive year. [4] He was the Kai team quarterback in the 2008 Hula Bowl, where he led the offense and was one of the Kai team's only bright spots. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. 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). 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. 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 will motivate us to lead this organization to the place we want to go. Because we respect your right to privacy, you can choose not to allow some types of cookies. There are a few fundamental things that will influence decisions, starting with whether Cousins signs an extension. Despite entering the league three years after Stafford, Cousins is also going into his age-34 season. Kevin played the game at all levels, which gives him a unique connection to players, and he is highly respected throughout the league. Minnesota Vikings' Kevin O'Connell 'excited to coach' Kirk Cousins in 2022. He grew up in Birmingham, Ala., and has written for Yahoo, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and the Kansas City Star, among many other places. 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. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising. 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. 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. You won't want to miss a moment of the 2022 season! One element of his teams play that must improve? My main goal was to connect with (Cousins) and build on a relationship, OConnell said.