Those are things we got to answer. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. The rushing attack. Visit NFL.com's transaction hub for a daily breakdown. 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. 2023 Minnesota Vikings Football, LLC , All Rights Reserved. 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. Really excited about Lewis and his mental growth through how he handled the adversity of that injury, OConnell said. But Kevin O'Connell's comments later in the week made it sound like something bigger was in the works. 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. And in 2022, Cousins is scheduled to cost the Vikings $45 million on their salary cap. The numbers bear out OConnells observation. 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. Its a path that could eventually lead to another extension for Cousins, but the Vikings are doing their diligence to find Mr. He made his NFL debut on September 21, 2008, in the fourth quarter against the Miami Dolphins, throwing his first four career passes and completing three. But it was part of the process to find a long-term solution. 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. 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. The assessments of inherited players were made a year ago through film study and advanced metrics. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. "This is a franchise with a deep history and a tremendous fan base. How do you build the rest of the team? Adofo-Mensah asked. He later reiterated his own self reflection following the season, saying there were a lot of phases looking at everything from how game-management and play-calling tie together to how they handle all the aspects of players schedules to the scheme. Minnesota Vikings' Kevin O'Connell 'excited to coach' Kirk Cousins in 2022. 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. Aug 30 2009 Released by New England. The idea. Since then, there have been postseason appearances after the 2012 (loss in Wild Card), 2015 (loss in Wild Card), 2017 (loss in NFC Championship), 2019 (loss in Divisional) and 2022 (loss in Wild Card) seasons. 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. In addition to helping QB Jared Goff to his fourth consecutive season with 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 Arizona 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. 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.. Some would take this as a sign the Vikings are ready to move on. 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. But even if they do like mayo in their coffee, it seems like OConnell is bringing a thorough evaluation process to find their guy. The Minnesota Vikings have an intriguing decision on Adam Thielens future with the franchise, a team that has employed him since 2013. Vikings fans should be excited for the future of this team under Kevin's direction. 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 Vikings had several needs coming off a 15-win season in 1998. 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. [10], He was named a team captain for the September 20 game against the New England Patriots.[11]. I think that's where we want to go eventually," Adofo-Mensah continued. [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). It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. Ive been very honest about that. As he reviewed the way defenses matched up against his team, OConnell noticed a trend. converting part of right tackle Brian O'Neill's base salary to a signing bonus. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Kevin O'Connell have only held their posts for a year, but they deserve the faith of the Vikings community. 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.". 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. ". 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. If not, they have the luxury of having Cousins to buy more time. "I feel like that foundation's in place. 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. Similarly to his GM one day earlier, the Vikings head coach couldnt make a strong statement about what the future would hold at QB. In his first season as the Vikings' coach, O'Connell has compiled a 6-1 record and the team has a 3.5-game lead in the NFC North entering Week 9. "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. With their limited salary cap . 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). 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. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, The Sopranos, and The Doors (the band). Finding a suitable compromise appears to be the current strategy. Teams that typically played with one-high safety against most opponents often utilized two-high safeties against the Vikings. 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. [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. Theres a reason I feel so strongly about Kirk. 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.. Prior to joining the Rams, O'Connell worked in Washington, serving as the quarterbacks coach in 2017-18 and the offensive coordinator in 2019. View photos of new Vikings Head Coach Kevin O'Connell in photos from his time with the Rams. The riser was lower than the previous stage, but the team they've led for about a year has been elevated from an 8-9 squad to one that won 13 games for the third time within a Vikings season. On third-and-8, for example, the Vikings personnel options were limited. "But I wouldn't say that we're that established, 'there' team because we haven't shown it yet. 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. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. We're still feeling that here, but I will say that hurt, that sting, that will drive us. 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. So, well see what happens.. Sure, there were unsightly losses along the way, including a couple of regular-season defeats to Philadelphia and Dallas teams that each won 12 plus in the regular season and have advanced to the Divisional Round of the NFC Playoffs. Youve got to ask yourself the question: Why?. To say I'm excited about coaching Justin for a really long time is an understatement.". Certainly the facilities would have gotten an A+ last year but its hard to imagine they would have ranked No. O'Connell and the Rams are coming off a victory in Super Bowl LVI against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. 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. Sometimes how you have to reinvent yourself week in and week out, OConnell said. 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. Cousins is entering the final year of his contract, and NFL Networks Tom Pelissero reported earlier in the week that he would not anticipate the type of one-year, fully-guaranteed extensions that the 35-year-old has signed in the past. . While some coaches chose not to attend this years combine, OConnell places considerable value on meeting players in person. Follow us for breaking news and latest updates. EAGAN, Minn. Eleven months and a day after Kwesi Adofo-Mensah helped introduce Kevin O'Connell from a temporary stage constructed in Twin . Spielman tried his hand at it, scouting Carson Strong and praising Malik Willis response to an overrated chant one year ago. 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. "Like [O'Connell] said in his final meeting, 'It's supposed to hurt. The wait is over for Minnesota Vikings fans who were a bit . There was a mixed reaction to that pick. All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. 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. 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. Some believe that is too rich for an aging playmaker and have subsequently speculated about Thielens fate in 2023. 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. Looking back on Vikings history, they have stumbled trying to find a franchise quarterback. Quarterback Mike White said he'd like to return to the New York Jets, but knows it might not happen as he heads toward free agency. He is a genuinely positive person who will help create a high-energy internal environment.". 5. 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! He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. 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. 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. 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. The Vikings tried to identify another quarterback when trading up for Teddy Bridgewater in 2014. 1. It is something Ive thought a lot about.. While OConnell answered gracefully about his colleague, it was a reminder that they didnt finish the year with a deep playoff run. 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. 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. 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 those decisions involves quarterback Kirk Cousins. I believe in him as a player.. Cousins' 4,093 passing yards marked his third-consecutive 4,000-yard passing season, helping him become the 11th quarterback in NFL history to accomplish this feat. Is it to that line?' 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.' Meetings with general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and executive vice president of football operations Rob Brzezinski have helped OConnell in this regard. Commanders wide receiver Jahan Dotson is "fired up" to work with Washington's new offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy. Click on the different category headings to find out more and change our default settings. It comes down to efficiency, he said. The obvious answer? 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. The Minnesota Vikings named Kevin O'Connell as the 10th head coach in franchise history on Feb. 16, 2022. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. 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. They needed more receivers on the field. Wide receiver Adam Thielens cap number and age (32) present another complicated decision, and OConnell is mindful of the many factors. 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. This organization saw a shift in how it was being defended from previous years to this year, OConnell said. And its even stronger now, OConnell said. Vikings Players Close Out Season with Locker Room Clean Out. 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. 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. [25][26], On February 16, 2022, just three days after his Super Bowl LVI victory, O'Connell was hired by the Minnesota Vikings as the 10th head coach in their franchise history. 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. . However, neither seem like a good option now. Browse our online application for MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL, EPL, or MLS player contracts, salaries, transactions, and more. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. 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. O'Connell also played for the Detroit Lions, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, and San Diego Chargers before retiring in 2012. 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. 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. Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. 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. 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. Under O'Connell, Rams quarterbacks have thrown for 1,517 passing yards (third in NFL), 11 touchdowns (fourth in NFL) and a 106.4 passer rating in playoff games (second in NFL). Before the Super Bowl, Thielen said onESPNsFirst Take, I want to retire a Viking. Adofo-Mensah, who previously worked on Wall Street, was asked to assess where the Vikings stock is. [14] He was later released again on July 29, 2011.[15]. Aside from the quarterback situation which is like talking about building a house and saying other than the ground it stands on the Vikings will also consider the wants/needs/system of Brian Flores as they look for improvement on defense. [29]. 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. 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. 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. A significant part of the positive culture was OConnell and Cousins working together in lockstep. On August 31, 2010, New York released O'Connell. "As crazy as this sounds, leading the league in yards and receptions, I think he and I have just scratched the surface of where we want to go as an offense, particularly with him as our premier receiver," O'Connell said Wednesday at the NFL Scouting Combine. 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. O'Connell was asked today if Donatell will be back and didn't . 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.. O'Connell joins the Vikings after serving as the offensive coordinator for the Los A. Along the way, personal relationships grew. If O'Connell's staff likes a prospect like USC's Caleb Williams . ", "I don't want to be the Vikings GM without this guy on our team, so it's a priority," Adofo-Mensah said. He takes it very seriously how much people and young kids look up to him. 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. Passing, he ranked tenth in yardage, eighth in attempts, and seventh in completions. 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 . He grew up in Birmingham, Ala., and has written for Yahoo, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and the Kansas City Star, among many other places. 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. O'Connell is the son of a former FBI agent. In basketball, he was a two-year letterman, and a teammate of Arizona standout Chase Budinger. 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. 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. Cousins is attached to a fully guaranteed $35MM base salary. 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. 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. If not, they could ride Cousins another year and try their luck to acquire their guy in 2024. The Vikings need to clear $23 million of 2023 salary to get under the cap. 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. He played one season for the Patriots behind QB Matt Cassel following a season-ending injury to QB Tom Brady. How long does he meet that threshold? The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. Even if the Vikings agree to a long-term extension, they seem to be willing to wait until their version of Mr. And none of the endings feature everyone who was around last year. Thielen will turn 33 this summer and incur a $19.9 million cap hit against the Vikings salary cap. 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. Facebook Twitter On Wednesday, OConnell said hes hoping that their shared experience in 2022 will help both sides satisfy their needs. But Adofo-Mensah gave his own review about his starting quarterback. 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.. 2023 Minnesota Vikings Football, LLC , All Rights Reserved. But this regime doesnt seem to be looking for a quarterback, theyre looking for the quarterback. On August 5, 2011, O'Connell signed with the Miami Dolphins, but was waived on September 3. The 33-year-old quarterback's $35 million base salary for 2022 became guaranteed last March . Eagan, Minn. (February 15, 2022) - The Minnesota Vikings have named Kevin O'Connell as the 10th head coach in franchise history. Doing so could mean some hard decisions on key contributors from last season like Dalvin Cook, Eric Kendricks, ZaDarius Smith and others. This is also a business. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. I dont know. [19], O'Connell was hired to the offensive staff of the San Francisco 49ers on February 26, 2016. O'Connell graduated from San Diego State University in December 2007 with a degree in political science. 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 (!!!) We haven't shown our ability to come in year-in, year-out and do those things. "It's so easy from my background to sit in front of a spreadsheet and make decisions and talk about things. Kevin played the game at all levels, which gives him a unique connection to players, and he is highly respected throughout the league. Since the start of 2019, Thielen ranks fifth in the NFL in touchdown receptions (36), trailing only Davante Adams (48), Mike Evans (41), Tyreek Hill (38), and Travis Kelce (37). 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. With Robert Quinn, Cameron Jordan and Cameron Heyward still on the board, the Vikings decided to get their guy Christian Ponder. 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. The home runs and long ones are great, but as a play caller, Id love to be second-and-5. However, there is no mistaking the reality. Hes the epitome of a hometown hero, universally loved, and the type of player who should retire with the Vikings. Those are all questions we got to answer. Coming off a Super Bowl LVI victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, O'Connell. "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. 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. 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. So how will he balance the desire to maximize the benefits of the culture, keep the players who helped him implement it and improve on last season while dealing with the facts of life in a salary cap league? Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. Scouting Combine live updates Top 150 free agents Beat writer . When Favre finally declined, the Vikings were in another spot of desperation to draft a quarterback in 2011. 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.. He was 11-of-21 for 147 yards, and completed the pass which resulted in the Kai's only score of the game.[6]. The Minnesota Vikings named Kevin O'Connell as the 10th head coach in franchise history on Feb. 16, 2022. INDIANAPOLIS -- Justin Jefferson led the NFL in receiving yards and receptions in 2022 while averaging 106.4 yards per game.