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. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. Were in a position to do a lot of different things regardless of field position, score of the game, personnel groupings.. ", "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. Not only schematically, how people play against you, but the responsibility he has as a role model. 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?. 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. The process was complicated by the lack of free agency and offseason movement due to the NFLs player lockout. Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah on the futures of Kirk Cousins and Justin Jefferson. 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.. 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. 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.. Kevin O'Connell Updates Adam Thielen's Status with Vikings The Vikings Will Benefit From Their Revamped Team Culture, Theres One Ideal Way To Deal With Danielle Hunters Contract. Kevin O'Connell signed a 1 year, - contract with the San Diego Chargers, including an average annual salary of -. Some would take this as a sign the Vikings are ready to move on. I just watch the way he carries himself every single day and week. He also held the same position for Washington in 2019 after serving as the team'spassing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Coming off a Super Bowl LVI victory over the Cincinnati. Aug 30 2009 Released by New England. 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. 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. To see the rest of the Kevin O'Connell's contract breakdowns, & gain access to all of Spotrac's Premium tools, sign up today. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. Jan 19, 2023 at 10:00 AM. 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. My main goal was to connect with (Cousins) and build on a relationship, OConnell said. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. 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. 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. Follow Alec on Twitter @alec_lewis. [12] Following his departure, O'Connell found that he had a torn labrum in his throwing arm, an injury he sustained during the preseason. O'Connell compared Cousins to Matthew Stafford, calling each an "elite thrower," via Tomasson (on Twitter ). [22] After the 201920 regular season, O'Connell was not retained by the incoming new head coach, Ron Rivera. There are some hard conversations sometimes. 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. OConnell said he values the way the aforementioned players embraced his hiring last year and appreciates the way they helped bring about an entirely new culture. The Minnesota Vikings named Kevin O'Connell as the 10th head coach in franchise history on Feb. 16, 2022. . They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. 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. . But the. "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. NFL footage NFL Productions LLC. Adofo-Mensah had to explain how the Vikings, a team in salary cap hell, were going to shed salary while building off the team's first 13-win season since 2017. . 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. But it was part of the process to find a long-term solution. 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. EAGAN, Minn. Eleven months and a day after Kwesi Adofo-Mensah helped introduce Kevin O'Connell from a temporary stage constructed in Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center's Indoor Practice Facility, the men sat together at a table on a small riser in the Media Center. These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. "We are ecstatic to add Kevin as our head coach," said Vikings Owner/President Mark Wilf. However, there is no mistaking the reality. 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. The offensive line's sack rate, 4.5%, was the fifth-lowest in the NFL over the past two years. "Unbelievable talent. 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. The coach has made it a priority to educate himself on the particulars of the teams cap constraints. But Kevin O'Connell's comments later in the week made it sound like something bigger was in the works. Asked about the Vikings long-term future at that position, OConnell said he surveys the landscape of the position each year out of habit. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising. 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. 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. 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. 3. 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. Senior Editor. The Vikings head coach compared all of the moving parts to puzzle pieces but its more like a choose-your-own-adventure book because each choice with Player X impacts Player Y and the combination of all of the decisions takes you to a different endpoint. $36.25 million against its salary . That ultimately led the Vikings to Cousins. 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. 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. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, The Sopranos, and The Doors (the band). 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. Here are five takeaways from the conversation, beginning with OConnells thoughts on the free-agent decisions and potential cuts that will be made in the next couple of weeks. He played one season for the Patriots behind QB Matt Cassel following a season-ending injury to QB Tom Brady. 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. Visit NFL.com's transaction hub for a daily breakdown. ", "Kevin is an impressive and respected leader who has been a part of some explosive offensive schemes," said Vikings Owner/Chairman Zygi Wilf. "He has a tremendous football IQ and is passionate about preparing, developing and communicating with his players. Thielen joined the Vikings a decade ago as an undrafted special teamer and clawed his way up the depth chart to WR1 by the start of 2016. "One of my favorite players I've ever coached, I've told him that," O'Connell said of Jefferson. [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). However, neither seem like a good option now. 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. With Cousins in his mid-30s, the Vikings need to figure out a succession plan at quarterback. OConnell, though, sounded committed to making it work. While OConnell answered gracefully about his colleague, it was a reminder that they didnt finish the year with a deep playoff run. 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. NFL.com keeps you up to date with all of the latest league news from around the NFL. [19], O'Connell was hired to the offensive staff of the San Francisco 49ers on February 26, 2016. Adofo-Mensah, who previously worked on Wall Street, was asked to assess where the Vikings stock 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. OConnell also referenced fair compensation for his players at the NFL Combine, perhaps a nod to Thielens current contract and how it fits within Minnesotas free-agent navigability. "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. [29]. 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. 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. "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.". When Favre finally declined, the Vikings were in another spot of desperation to draft a quarterback in 2011. He spent his childhood in Carlsbad, California, where he attended La Costa Canyon High School. 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 its even stronger now, OConnell said. Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell fielded questions from the media on Wednesday at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. To provide the premier place to go to work and improve both personally and collectively as a team in our league means a lot to us, OConnell said. [21] In 2019, under interim head coach Bill Callahan, O'Connell was promoted to offensive coordinator. The Vikings left the Zimmer-Spielman era in desperate need of improved morale. pic.twitter.com/WKHqPZU8ea, Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) March 1, 2023. OConnell is well aware. Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports. 2023 Minnesota Vikings Football, LLC , All Rights Reserved. All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. 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. That, more than anything, is what OConnell wants to eliminate. 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. He was 11-of-21 for 147 yards, and completed the pass which resulted in the Kai's only score of the game.[6]. 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. 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. Alec Lewis is a staff writer covering the Minnesota Vikings for The Athletic. Thielen will turn 33 this summer and incur a $19.9 million cap hit against the Vikings salary cap. "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. Kevin O'Connell who is one of the richest football quarterbacks has an estimated net worth of $5 million. 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. 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.. 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. Because we respect your right to privacy, you can choose not to allow some types of cookies. 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. Despite entering the league three years after Stafford, Cousins is also going into his age-34 season. 1. Browse our online application for MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL, EPL, or MLS player contracts, salaries, transactions, and more. As he reviewed the way defenses matched up against his team, OConnell noticed a trend. If they want a quarterback in this draft, they seem willing to find a way to get them. If I demand our team to improve in certain areas, OConnell said, Ive got to do the things we need to do as a staff.. 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. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. Theres a lot of different directions you can go, OConnell said, and (each decision) affects another one and another one. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. One element of his teams play that must improve? 2023 Minnesota Vikings Football, LLC , All Rights Reserved. O'Connell joins the Vikings after serving as the offensive coordinator for the Los A. Adofo-Mensah had to explain how the Vikings, a team in salary cap hell, were going to shed salary while building off the teams first 13-win season since 2017. In July 2017, Kirk Cousins became the first quarterback to play under the franchise tag for the second consecutive year. If you tell me Im second-and-5, here we go. Vikings Players Close Out Season with Locker Room Clean Out. [2] At La Costa Canyon, O'Connell lettered in both football and basketball. ", "We've shown that we have a culture and an ability to do those things at a really high level," Adofo-Mensah said. View photos of new Vikings Head Coach Kevin O'Connell in photos from his time with the Rams. "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. 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. 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. One of those decisions involves quarterback Kirk Cousins. These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. 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. Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson put on a show Saturday at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine, making history during his highly anticipated workout. The Minnesota Vikings have made the hiring of Kevin O'Connell as their new head coach official by sharing the news on social media. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. At the 2008 NFL Combine, O'Connell ran the 40-yard dash in 4.61 seconds; only University of San Diego quarterback Josh Johnson had a faster time. "He is a strong leader, an innovative coach and an excellent communicator. [13] The injury required surgery. Looking back on Vikings history, they have stumbled trying to find a franchise quarterback. 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. Sure, it may not be good as a fresh bowl of General Tsaos Chicken, but it beats not having Chinese food at all. 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. General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah noted Tuesday that inking the wideout to a new contract is a "high priority. Fired up to watch these guys this fall @b_petty14 @DWatford5 @EverettGolson @Connor_Cook03 @tannerlee12 @bharrisqb1 pic.twitter.com/2TNR1YJlHt But Kevin OConnells comments later in the week made it sound like something bigger was in the works. 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.' It's supposed to sting.' 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. If Levis or Richardson is the type of quarterback that answers those questions, the Vikings will likely do their best to move up. It's supposed to hurt. Facebook Twitter O'Connell, 36, was a third-round pick . Before the Super Bowl, Thielen said onESPNsFirst Take, I want to retire a Viking. 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. The Vikings had several needs coming off a 15-win season in 1998. On August 31, 2010, New York released O'Connell. 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. 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. Vikings fans should be excited for the future of this team under Kevin's direction. 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. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Certainly the facilities would have gotten an A+ last year but its hard to imagine they would have ranked No. Jefferson's 4,825 career yards are the most in NFL history for a receiver in the first three years of a career. 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. 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." Its just not possible when sitting $24 million over the cap (per OverTheCap.com) to bring all the veterans back. The Vikings have not gone to the playoffs in consecutive seasons since 2008-09. 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 (!!!) The Minnesota Vikings announced Wednesday that Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O'Connell has been hired as the 10th head coach in franchise history. O'Connell was signed by the San Diego Chargers on July 29, 2012, to serve as an emergency back-up in the Chargers' practices with Charlie Whitehurst suffering an injury and Kyle Boller announcing his retirement from the league. 2. A significant part of the positive culture was OConnell and Cousins working together in lockstep. The Vikings are coming off a 13-win season, but also a disappointing first-round exit in the playoffs.