That will motivate us to lead this organization to the place we want to go. That, more than anything, is what OConnell wants to eliminate. Is it to that standard? Predictability, then, provides comfort to defenses. Follow us for breaking news and latest updates. [24] In O'Connell's second season with the Rams, their offense ranked 2nd best in receiving touchdowns (41), 5th highest in total yards (4,893), 8th best in total touchdowns (63), and the team won Super Bowl LVI (defeating the Cincinnati Bengals, 2320). If not, they could ride Cousins another year and try their luck to acquire their guy in 2024. 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. 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. If they want a quarterback in this draft, they seem willing to find a way to get them. Youve got to ask yourself the question: Why?. The numbers bear out OConnells observation. 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. Kevin O'Connell who is one of the richest football quarterbacks has an estimated net worth of $5 million. It's supposed to sting.' Coming off a Super Bowl LVI victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, O'Connell. Under the guidance of O'Connell, Rams QB Matthew Stafford and WR Cooper Kupp both had career years in 2021. Its a path that could eventually lead to another extension for Cousins, but the Vikings are doing their diligence to find Mr. pic.twitter.com/WKHqPZU8ea, Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) March 1, 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. He was 11-of-21 for 147 yards, and completed the pass which resulted in the Kai's only score of the game.[6]. 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. 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. [10], He was named a team captain for the September 20 game against the New England Patriots.[11]. It's supposed to hurt. 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. "He is a strong leader, an innovative coach and an excellent communicator. Jefferson's 4,825 career yards are the most in NFL history for a receiver in the first three years of a career. As he reviewed the way defenses matched up against his team, OConnell noticed a trend. 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. Brad Childress urged Minnesota to draft Tarvaris Jackson upon his arrival in the 2006, and then recruited Brett Favre as an act of desperation to lead the Vikings to the NFC Championship Game. 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. 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. The wait is over for Minnesota Vikings fans who were a bit . As we did on Tuesday with Vikings general manager Kwesi. Were in a position to do a lot of different things regardless of field position, score of the game, personnel groupings.. Despite entering the league three years after Stafford, Cousins is also going into his age-34 season. [20], On January 20, 2017, O'Connell was hired as the Washington Redskins' quarterbacks coach, working under head coach Jay Gruden. [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). A significant part of the positive culture was OConnell and Cousins working together in lockstep. Kevin William O'Connell, nicknamed "KOC", is an American former player and a football coach who is the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League. Adofo-Mensah, who previously worked on Wall Street, was asked to assess where the Vikings stock is. Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports. So, ultimately, we didn't accomplish the goals we wanted to accomplish, and I always want to be respectful of that. By COURTNEY CRONIN. Maybe its not even for any one particular year.. He believes he's the best receiver in football -- I happen to agree with him -- and a lot goes with that. The third strategy is the one the Vikings currently employ, and it may be the option with the least room for error. 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. I believe in him as a player.. KARE 11 Sports Director. O'Connell, a former backup NFL quarterback who spent time with five different teams, knows the business from a player's side and coach's side. "One of my favorite players I've ever coached, I've told him that," O'Connell said of Jefferson. Eagan, Minn. (February 15, 2022) - The Minnesota Vikings have named Kevin O'Connell as the 10th head coach in franchise history. This year brings a different scenario. If you tell me Im second-and-5, here we go. He spent his childhood in Carlsbad, California, where he attended La Costa Canyon High School. 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.' Under the guidance of O'Connell, Rams QB Matthew Stafford and WR Cooper Kupp both had a career years in 2021. Minnesota Vikings new head coach Kevin O'Connell takes over a club that missed the postseason the past two seasons with losing records and hasn't won the NFC North since 2017. Get a behind-the-scenes look at Vikings Head Coach Kevin O'Connell's media day last week at the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine. 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. Adofo-Mensah shared an anecdote from after the game when he was walking the concourse behind a group of fans. 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. Heck, it was even over 70 degrees outside. All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. 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. Sep 9 2010 Resigned a 2 year $1.25 million contract with New York (NYJ) Aug 31 2010 Waived by New York (NYJ) Sep 6 2009 Traded to NYJ from Detroit for a conditional draft pick. 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. Browse our online application for MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL, EPL, or MLS player contracts, salaries, transactions, and more. [How do you] round him to make sure that you can win that way? 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. O'Connell also helped Vikings all-time leading rusher Adrian Peterson eclipse 1,000 scrimmage yards (1,040) at the age of 34. Alec Lewis is a staff writer covering the Minnesota Vikings for The Athletic. 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. The Vikings had several needs coming off a 15-win season in 1998. 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. 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. 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. "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. 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. 2. 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.. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. Aug 30 2009 Released by New England. That ultimately led the Vikings to Cousins. 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. O'Connell joins the Vikings after serving as the offensive coordinator for the Los A. [21] In 2019, under interim head coach Bill Callahan, O'Connell was promoted to offensive coordinator. [23], On January 16, 2020, O'Connell was hired by the Los Angeles Rams as offensive coordinator. Theres a reason I feel so strongly about Kirk. 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. He said it's between a startup and one with an ability to earn, adding "in our business, earning is wins. "Like [O'Connell] said in his final meeting, 'It's supposed to hurt. Kupp, who was named The Associated Press NFL Offensive Player of the Year at last week's NFL Honors, had one of the best receiving seasons in NFL history, leading the NFL in receptions (145), receiving yards (1,947) and receiving touchdowns (16), earning AP First Team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors. Is it to that line?' They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. Eagan, Minn. (February 15, 2022) The Minnesota Vikings have named Kevin O'Connell as the 10th head coach in franchise history. However, neither seem like a good option now. . 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. "Now, we've got to all the last phase of that is the accountability to each other, to make sure that that standard is championship worthy, and we're putting ourselves in that conversation to a man and to a woman in this building that we're looking at each other and asking ourselves the question, 'With everything we do, is it championship worthy? Hes the epitome of a hometown hero, universally loved, and the type of player who should retire with the Vikings. 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.. OConnell respects the way Patrick Peterson, soon to be an unrestricted free agent, set a standard for young contributors in the secondary. 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 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. 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. 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. But the biggest question on everybodys mind was what they were going to do with Kirk Cousins. The rushing attack. However, there is no mistaking the reality. 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. For what its worth, SIs Albert Breer said on The Rich Eisen Show that many teams believe that the best quarterback prospects are still in college. Adofo-Mensah also stated that there are a lot of other factors to consider what type of quarterback the Vikings could be looking for. The day the Vikings introduced defensive coordinator Brian Flores, OConnell mentioned the thorough self-evaluation process that took place when the season ended. 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. Thielen will turn 33 this summer and incur a $19.9 million cap hit against the Vikings salary cap. 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. Visit NFL.com's transaction hub for a daily breakdown. 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. Weve got some real decisions to talk through and things to work through, OConnell said. Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. 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. Already Subscribed? 2023 Minnesota Vikings Football, LLC , All Rights Reserved. But the. 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). One thing I know, [Cousins] is good enough. 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. Click on the different category headings to find out more and change our default settings. The 34-year-old has put up good statistics over the years, including 33 TDs and seven interceptions last season, but he's never delivered any sustained postseason success. 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). 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. 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 theres a foundation of care., OConnell said the conversations with Cousins are ongoing., Its not like theres some secret thing going on, OConnell said. These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. 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. 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. But Adofo-Mensah gave his own review about his starting quarterback. But there was a sobering line of questioning from a New York reporter pertaining to Giants head coach Brian Daboll. ", "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. Thielen will turn 33 this summer and incur a $19.9 million cap hit against the Vikings salary cap. His team won 13 games and the NFLPA just said his teams culture was the best in the league. Its even stronger now. 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. Doing so could mean some hard decisions on key contributors from last season like Dalvin Cook, Eric Kendricks, ZaDarius Smith and others. Spielman tried his hand at it, scouting Carson Strong and praising Malik Willis response to an overrated chant one year ago. "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. There are times when hes mad and when Im mad. Those are things we got to answer. The Vikings left the Zimmer-Spielman era in desperate need of improved morale. NFL and the NFL shield design are registered trademarks of the National Football League.The team names, logos and uniform designs are registered trademarks of the teams indicated. 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. 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. "But I wouldn't say that we're that established, 'there' team because we haven't shown it yet. Kupp, who was named 2021 NFL Offensive Player of the Year by The Associated Press and Super Bowl LVI MVP, had one of the best receiving seasons in NFL history, leading the NFL in receptions (145), receiving yards (1,947) and receiving touchdowns (16), earning AP First-Team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors. INDIANAPOLIS -- Justin Jefferson led the NFL in receiving yards and receptions in 2022 while averaging 106.4 yards per game. My main goal was just to connect with him and build on a relationship that I thought was strong already. Different quarterbacks require different things around them but we know for sure that [Cousins] meets that threshold. "Reflecting on what we were able to accomplish as a football team an NFC North title and 13 wins it goes beyond that. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work. 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. If not, they have the luxury of having Cousins to buy more time. O'Connell was claimed off waivers by the Jets on September 4, 2011.[16]. [12] Following his departure, O'Connell found that he had a torn labrum in his throwing arm, an injury he sustained during the preseason. Sometimes how you have to reinvent yourself week in and week out, OConnell said. The idea. 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) Ive been very honest about that. 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. And in 2022, Cousins is scheduled to cost the Vikings $45 million on their salary cap. 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. "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.
