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. NFL footage NFL Productions LLC. [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. But Minnesota watched as Cam Newton, Jake Locker, and Blaine Gabbert flew off the board. Sometimes how you have to mold and adapt how you play while still staying true to your football philosophy at its core and its not always easy to do, but hes demonstrated that hes been very successful doing it time and time again.. [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. Kevin played the game at all levels, which gives him a unique connection to players, and he is highly respected throughout the league. Is there a chance to add somebody maybe with different skill sets? Weve got some real decisions to talk through and things to work through, OConnell said. 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. "And then, sure enough, she ended up in the same place. If O'Connell's staff likes a prospect like USC's Caleb Williams . All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. However, blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer. The obvious answer? Thielen will turn 33 this summer and incur a $19.9 million cap hit against the Vikings salary cap. [2], O'Connell played in both the 2008 Hula Bowl and the 2008 East-West Shrine Game. Conversely, when the Vikings ran for zero or negative yards on first down, something they did more than any other team in the league aside from the Jaguars, they would then be fighting uphill. The Vikings officially. If not, they have the luxury of having Cousins to buy more time. 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. 3. 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. View photos of new Vikings Head Coach Kevin O'Connell in photos from his time with the Rams. 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. You do hope it was a perfect world where you can have everybody and have everybody finish their careers where they should and feel great about it, but its just so hard to do and still build for the future the way the rules are set up, OConnell said. Kevin O'Connell, fresh off a Super Bowl victory as the Los Angeles Rams' offensive coordinator, was introduced as the Minnesota Vikings next head coach on Thursday, and the big takeaway from . But Adofo-Mensah gave his own review about his starting quarterback. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. 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. Some believe that is too rich for an aging playmaker and have subsequently speculated about Thielens fate in 2023. Some believe that is too rich for an aging playmaker and have subsequently speculated about Thielen's fate in 2023. Similarly to his GM one day earlier, the Vikings head coach couldnt make a strong statement about what the future would hold at QB. Facebook Twitter Minnesotas approach to their franchise quarterback seems much more scientific. And just in all of our dialogue Monday with our players, getting a chance to meet with each and every one of them, they understand that, and they're motivated for that. 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. Right. That ultimately led the Vikings to Cousins. 2023 Minnesota Vikings Football, LLC , All Rights Reserved. These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. Those are things we got to answer. Adofo-Mensah shared an anecdote from after the game when he was walking the concourse behind a group of fans. "I feel like that foundation's in place. So, ultimately, we didn't accomplish the goals we wanted to accomplish, and I always want to be respectful of that. The Vikings were unable to officially announce that they were hiring O'Connell until after Los Angeles' playoff run came to an end. A necessary condition is having a starter-level quarterback, Adofo-Mensah began. "He has a tremendous football IQ and is passionate about preparing, developing and communicating with his players. "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? Eagan, Minn. (February 15, 2022) The Minnesota Vikings have named Kevin O'Connell as the 10th head coach in franchise history. 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. 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. Adofo-Mensah also stated that there are a lot of other factors to consider what type of quarterback the Vikings could be looking for. 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. Youve got to ask yourself the question: Why?. 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, 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. 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. 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.' 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.. But the. We laugh. Quarterbacks are never far from OConnells mind. Following his release, the New York Jets re-signed O'Connell to a two-year deal. 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.. The information does not usually directly identify you, but it can give you a more personalised web experience. Even if the Vikings agree to a long-term extension, they seem to be willing to wait until their version of Mr. Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports. 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. There are times when hes mad and when Im mad. There was a mixed reaction to that pick. 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 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. . Justin Jeffersons superstar turn. He was 11-of-21 for 147 yards, and completed the pass which resulted in the Kai's only score of the game.[6]. 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. Adofo-Mensah admitted his elevation to GM brought him more exposure to the human elements than when he was advancing through the research-and-development departments with the 49ers and Browns. O'Connell and Adofo-Mensah have emphasized collaboration throughout their first year together, and the first-time head coach picked up where the first-time GM left off: "As I told our team it's supposed to sting. He takes it very seriously how much people and young kids look up to him. "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. The New England Patriots selected O'Connell with their fourth pick (94th overall) in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft. "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. Thielen will turn 33 this summer and incur a $19.9 million cap hit against the Vikings salary cap. So have expectations going forward, until "someday" can become "the day.". Heck, it was even over 70 degrees outside. The 33-year-old quarterback's $35 million base salary for 2022 became guaranteed last March . Is it to that line?' Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Kevin O'Connell have only held their posts for a year, but they deserve the faith of the Vikings community. This website is not directly or indirectly affiliated, associated, or connected in any way to Major League Baseball, the National Basketball Association, the National Football League or the National Hockey League. 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. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Photo Credit: Kirby Lee (USA TODAY Sports). [2] At La Costa Canyon, O'Connell lettered in both football and basketball. When Kwesi Adofo-Mensah stepped up to the podium at the NFL Scouting Combine, he had several questions to answer about the Minnesota Vikings future. He had been placed on the injured reserve list. But I did want to take the time to reflect and to move forward in the right way," O'Connell said. But there was a sobering line of questioning from a New York reporter pertaining to Giants head coach Brian Daboll. When Favre finally declined, the Vikings were in another spot of desperation to draft a quarterback in 2011. [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). 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. What he means to our league, how he carries himself, how he works every day. I believe in him as a player.. We want to be.". ", "Kevin is an impressive and respected leader who has been a part of some explosive offensive schemes," said Vikings Owner/Chairman Zygi Wilf. Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. If Levis or Richardson is the type of quarterback that answers those questions, the Vikings will likely do their best to move up. Right comes along. However, neither seem like a good option now. 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. O'Connell, 36, was a third-round pick . He also writes for Bring Me The News and The Viking Age and hosts The Homer Horn Podcast. The wait is over for Minnesota Vikings fans who were a bit . This organization saw a shift in how it was being defended from previous years to this year, OConnell said. The Vikings tried to identify another quarterback when trading up for Teddy Bridgewater in 2014. NFL.com keeps you up to date with all of the latest league news from around the NFL. To see the rest of the Kevin O'Connell's contract breakdowns, & gain access to all of Spotrac's Premium tools, sign up today. Were going to continue to look at whats the best route to go moving forward (with Thielen), OConnell said. Thielen notched 716 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns in 2022. Doing so could mean some hard decisions on key contributors from last season like Dalvin Cook, Eric Kendricks, ZaDarius Smith and others. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. ". If the Vikings parted ways with Thielen via outright release or trade, theyd face three plausible options for 2023s WR2: For now, OConnell views Thielen as an unabashed team leader, but the front office must determine the fair compensation for his cap hit. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, The Sopranos, and The Doors (the band). O'Connell rushed for a touchdown in the 2008 preseason against the New York Giants in the fourth quarter, in a game the Patriots eventually lost 1914. If not, they could ride Cousins another year and try their luck to acquire their guy in 2024. These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. However, there is no mistaking the reality. None of that means anything for what we do moving forward if we dont grow and evolve and change in a good capacity, OConnell said. O'Connell also played for the Detroit Lions, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, and San Diego Chargers before retiring in 2012. Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett spoke with media members on Friday for the first time since his arrest for public intoxication in late January. The offensive line's sack rate, 4.5%, was the fifth-lowest in the NFL over the past two years. 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. Spielman hand-picked Ponder to be his quarterback after watching a game against North Carolina and a couple of practices at the Senior Bowl. Theres a reason why I feel so strongly about Kirk, OConnell said. 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. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. Whatever the plan, timing is everything for the Vikings. . 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. 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. I am committed to working tirelessly to bring them a Super Bowl championship.". Kevin O'Connell signed a 1 year, - contract with the San Diego Chargers, including an average annual salary of -. 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. My main goal was to connect with (Cousins) and build on a relationship, OConnell said. Asked about the Vikings long-term future at that position, OConnell said he surveys the landscape of the position each year out of habit. INDIANAPOLIS Following his news conference Wednesday afternoon at the NFL Scouting Combine, Minnesota Vikings coach Kevin OConnell met with a small group of beat writers. 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. A significant part of the positive culture was OConnell and Cousins working together in lockstep. 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. Kevin O'Connell Updates Adam Thielen's Status with Vikings That, more than anything, is what OConnell wants to eliminate. "This is a franchise with a deep history and a tremendous fan base. pic.twitter.com/WKHqPZU8ea, Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) March 1, 2023. 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: 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. Its just not possible when sitting $24 million over the cap (per OverTheCap.com) to bring all the veterans back. KARE 11 Sports Director. 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. ", "I don't want to be the Vikings GM without this guy on our team, so it's a priority," Adofo-Mensah said. The Minnesota Vikings announced Wednesday that Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O'Connell has been hired as the 10th head coach in franchise history. Craig Peters. The idea. But the things we did accomplish, I think, were incredibly impactful. Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson put on a show Saturday at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine, making history during his highly anticipated workout.