McCown also broke the single-game passing record in 2015, throwing for 457 yards against the Baltimore Ravens. The Vikings had several needs coming off a 15-win season in 1998. 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. Eagan, Minn. (February 15, 2022) The Minnesota Vikings have named Kevin O'Connell as the 10th head coach in franchise history. 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. [2], O'Connell played in both the 2008 Hula Bowl and the 2008 East-West Shrine Game. "He is a strong leader, an innovative coach and an excellent communicator. The Minnesota Vikings named Kevin O'Connell as the 10th head coach in franchise history on Feb. 16, 2022. In the early 1990s, Dennis Green used a revolving quarterback carousel that featured Jim McMahon, Warren Moon, Randall Cunningham, and Jeff George. 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 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. "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. Prior to joining the Rams, O'Connell worked in Washington, serving as the quarterbacks coach in 2017-18 and the offensive coordinator in 2019. Kevin O'Connell traveling with Vikings to Washington after his daughter Following his release, the New York Jets re-signed O'Connell to a two-year deal. 2023 Minnesota Vikings Football, LLC , All Rights Reserved. Already Subscribed? The day the Vikings introduced defensive coordinator Brian Flores, OConnell mentioned the thorough self-evaluation process that took place when the season ended. He also writes for Bring Me The News and The Viking Age and hosts The Homer Horn Podcast. There was a mixed reaction to that pick. 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. And trading him post June 1 would save the team $35 million of that against their cap. [20], On January 20, 2017, O'Connell was hired as the Washington Redskins' quarterbacks coach, working under head coach Jay Gruden. Under the guidance of O'Connell, Rams QB Matthew Stafford and WR Cooper Kupp both had a career years in 2021. "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? 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. 1 in other areas before hiring OConnell and GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, particularly with a different attitude toward players and increased focus on sports science in the training room. ", 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 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. 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. On Wednesday, OConnell said hes hoping that their shared experience in 2022 will help both sides satisfy their needs. Jan 19, 2023 at 10:00 AM. If O'Connell's staff likes a prospect like USC's Caleb Williams . On Tuesday, Adofo-Mensah explained that Cousins camp wants certainty if he is to sign a new deal, while the Vikings seek flexibility. Kevin O'Connell - Minnesota Vikings Coming off a Super Bowl LVI victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, O'Connell. These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. 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. 3. The more I can educate myself, learning about the details and particulars of our current situation, our previous situation, and obviously what it looks like moving forward, the more my conversations can be not only from an accurate place of where we are at this moment but where we hope to get to, OConnell said. Who is Leah O'Connell, Wife of the Minnesota Vikings coach Kevin O I think that's where we want to go eventually," Adofo-Mensah continued. 4 takeaways from Vikings HC Kevin O'Connell's combine press conference 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?. The Vikings Are Still Trying To Find Mr. Right At QB 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. The last remaining head coach opening in the NFL has been filled. OConnell explained Wednesday that that process ranged from reviewing game-management decisions to gauging his teams success in various schemes and plays. How long does he meet that threshold? By COURTNEY CRONIN. Armando Salguero: Kevin O'Connell Believes Vikings Are Really - OutKick This organization saw a shift in how it was being defended from previous years to this year, OConnell said. Different quarterbacks require different things around them but we know for sure that [Cousins] meets that threshold. 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. 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. Vikings' Kevin O'Connell Expects Kirk Cousins Back In 2022 "I came from a business where your job is to not be emotional and if you make emotional decisions, you typically make bad decisions. 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?. Were in a position to do a lot of different things regardless of field position, score of the game, personnel groupings.. 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). Doing so could mean some hard decisions on key contributors from last season like Dalvin Cook, Eric Kendricks, ZaDarius Smith and others. O'Connell joins the Vikings after serving as the offensive coordinator for the Los A. Kevin O'Connell Updates Adam Thielen's Status with Vikings 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. Thielen notched 716 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns in 2022. Kevin O'Connell: Vikings have 'some real decisions' ahead to get under 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. When Favre finally declined, the Vikings were in another spot of desperation to draft a quarterback in 2011. A year later, they have far more expertise of the Vikings' roster. "That's what led to a historic number of one-score games and so that's probably been the hardest job is adjusting to those things. All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. 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. Adofo-Mensah shared an anecdote from after the game when he was walking the concourse behind a group of fans. Even if the Vikings agree to a long-term extension, they seem to be willing to wait until their version of Mr. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Photo Credit: Kirby Lee (USA TODAY Sports). Login Here. A lot of guys come in here and say they want to start in the NFL on Day 1. ", "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. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work. That ultimately led the Vikings to Cousins. His net worth is somewhere between $30 million to $35 million. Were going to continue to look at whats the best route to go moving forward (with Thielen), OConnell said. These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. Some believe that is too rich for an aging playmaker and have subsequently speculated about Thielen's fate in 2023. The wait is over for Minnesota Vikings fans who were a bit . I think theres a conversation to be had to really see what that looks like: playing time and roles and responsibilities.. 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. Behind The Scenes of Kevin O'Connell's Media Day at The Combine There are times when hes mad and when Im mad. ", "Kevin is an impressive and respected leader who has been a part of some explosive offensive schemes," said Vikings Owner/Chairman Zygi Wilf. ". At the same time, proud of what they've accomplished this year and look forward to the first day of the offseason program, when we get those guys back in here.". O'Connell and the Rams are coming. "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. 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. OConnell, though, sounded committed to making it work. 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. [23], On January 16, 2020, O'Connell was hired by the Los Angeles Rams as offensive coordinator. Some believe that is too rich for an aging playmaker and have subsequently speculated about Thielens fate in 2023. Finding a suitable compromise appears to be the current strategy. When you visit any web site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. [12] Following his departure, O'Connell found that he had a torn labrum in his throwing arm, an injury he sustained during the preseason. We haven't shown our ability to come in year-in, year-out and do those things. We always have to be evaluating, OConnell said. That, more than anything, is what OConnell wants to eliminate. I am committed to working tirelessly to bring them a Super Bowl championship.". Facebook Twitter The Minnesota Vikings announced Wednesday that Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O'Connell has been hired as the 10th head coach in franchise history. Teams that typically played with one-high safety against most opponents often utilized two-high safeties against the 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. 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. However, blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer. We're still feeling that here, but I will say that hurt, that sting, that will drive us. 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. "This is a franchise with a deep history and a tremendous fan base. Kupp's 145 receptions and 1,947 receiving yards both ranked as the second-highest single-season totals in NFL history, trailing only Michael Thomas's 149 receptions in 2019 and Calvin Johnson's 1,964 receiving yards in 2012. 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. Minnesota Vikings: Kevin O'Connell's culture is now quantifiable 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 Carlsbad, California, native and his wife, Leah, have two sons, Kaden and Kolten, and a daughter, Quinn. The other was that the Vikings werent in a position to draft a quarterback, picking in the mid-20s for a majority of Greens tenure. However, there is no mistaking the reality. 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. The 33-year-old quarterback's $35 million base salary for 2022 became guaranteed last March . 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. My main goal was to connect with (Cousins) and build on a relationship, OConnell said. 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. 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. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. While they can feel reinforced by the results of the foundation laid in their first year, they also know a multitude of decisions await and all teams change from year to year. pic.twitter.com/WKHqPZU8ea, Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) March 1, 2023. Kevin William O'Connell Bio, Age, Height, Wife, Salary, Net worth Kwesi Adofo-Mensah & Kevin O'Connell Begin 2023 Vikings Standard Vikings Coaching Staff | Minnesota Vikings - vikings.com He spent his childhood in Carlsbad, California, where he attended La Costa Canyon High School. Vikings Kevin O'Connell: Takeaways from NFL Scouting Combine presser Vikings Players Close Out Season with Locker Room Clean Out. 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. Similarly to his GM one day earlier, the Vikings head coach couldnt make a strong statement about what the future would hold at QB. 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. 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. . Whatever the plan, timing is everything for the Vikings. [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. 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. 5. All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com. 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. Visit NFL.com's transaction hub for a daily breakdown. On February 17, 2015, it was announced that O'Connell was named to the position of quarterbacks coach of the Cleveland Browns for the 2015 NFL season. 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 (!!!) O'Connell was claimed off waivers by the Jets on September 4, 2011.[16]. Vikings finalize hire of champion Rams OC Kevin O'Connell The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. I believe in him as a player.. 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.. However, neither seem like a good option now. 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. Fired up to watch these guys this fall @b_petty14 @DWatford5 @EverettGolson @Connor_Cook03 @tannerlee12 @bharrisqb1 pic.twitter.com/2TNR1YJlHt 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. Adofo-Mensah was hired on Jan. 26, 2022 and O'Connell was named head coach on Feb. 16 after the Rams beat the Bengals in the Super Bowl. A significant part of the positive culture was OConnell and Cousins working together in lockstep. 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. Sure, it may not be good as a fresh bowl of General Tsaos Chicken, but it beats not having Chinese food at all. [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). The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. The idea. . Part of their jobs during the comprehensive evaluation process will be setting aside those personal relationships and not letting them interfere with the process of building the 2023 Vikings to have the best chance at a championship and be within the constraints of the NFL's salary cap. So, ultimately, we didn't accomplish the goals we wanted to accomplish, and I always want to be respectful of that. 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. 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. The Vikings Will Benefit From Their Revamped Team Culture, Theres One Ideal Way To Deal With Danielle Hunters Contract. "He has a tremendous football IQ and is passionate about preparing, developing and communicating with his players. Despite entering the league three years after Stafford, Cousins is also going into his age-34 season. 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. 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.. The only way theyre going to improve is through hard work and understanding that accountability factor to what their goals are, OConnell explained. Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah on the futures of Kirk Cousins and Justin Jefferson. A former NFL quarterback who was a career backup, O'Connell has been the Rams' offensive coordinator for the past two seasons. 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.