2. We want to be.". The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. Kevin will tease me about that sometimes. And in 2022, Cousins is scheduled to cost the Vikings $45 million on their salary cap. My main goal was to connect with (Cousins) and build on a relationship, OConnell said. With their limited salary cap . 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. If not, they have the luxury of having Cousins to buy more time. 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. Minnesota Vikings' Kevin O'Connell 'excited to coach' Kirk Cousins in 2022 NFL.com keeps you up to date with all of the latest league news from around the NFL. He also writes for Bring Me The News and The Viking Age and hosts The Homer Horn Podcast. O'Connell also helped the Rams offense tie for seventh in scoring offense (27.1 points per game) and score on 45.9% of their offensive drives, which ranked third in the NFL behind the Kansas City Chiefs (48.2) and New England Patriots (48.0). 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. 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. 5 Things to Know About Head Coach Kevin O'Connell - Minnesota Vikings That ultimately led the Vikings to Cousins. Theres a reason I feel so strongly about Kirk. 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. That, more than anything, is what OConnell wants to eliminate. On Wednesday, OConnell said hes hoping that their shared experience in 2022 will help both sides satisfy their needs. So, ultimately, we didn't accomplish the goals we wanted to accomplish, and I always want to be respectful of that. The Minnesota Vikings named Kevin O'Connell as the 10th head coach in franchise history on Feb. 16, 2022. Player development at every position is very, very important, OConnell said. Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott's cap hit might be rising in 2023, but owner Jerry Jones believes his quarterback has the ability to bridge the gap in any talent the roster might lose because of it. 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. Partnered with the USA TODAY Sports Media Group|Powered by, Signed a 1 year contract with Miami (MIA), Resigned a 2 year $1.25 million contract with New York (NYJ), Traded to NYJ from Detroit for a conditional draft pick, Signed a 4 year $2.46 million contract with New England (NE), Drafted by New England (NE): Round 3 (#94 overall). Before his NFL career ended in 2012, O'Connell spent time with the Miami Dolphins, a second-stint with the Jets and the San Diego Chargers. O'Connell was asked today if Donatell will be back and didn't . He was 11-of-21 for 147 yards, and completed the pass which resulted in the Kai's only score of the game.[6]. Justin Jeffersons superstar turn. At first, Adofo-Mensah makes it sound like Cousins is the NFLs version of microwaving Chinese leftovers at midnight. Vikings Coaching Staff | Minnesota Vikings - vikings.com How OConnell and the front office maneuver through these personnel decisions to counteract the way defenses have played them could well become a key story in 2023. And I also want my opportunity to show that I can play at a high level. ". 3 Minnesota Vikings offseason moves with Kevin O'Connell - Sportsnaut There also were road losses at Detroit and Green Bay after the calendar flipped to December. Its not always easy to maintain that, but I will never change from that because I just believe thats the way youre supposed to operate.. 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. You won't want to miss a moment of the 2022 season! All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. The only way theyre going to improve is through hard work and understanding that accountability factor to what their goals are, OConnell explained. Cousins is attached to a fully guaranteed $35MM base salary. This organization saw a shift in how it was being defended from previous years to this year, OConnell said. Vikings finalize hire of champion Rams OC Kevin O'Connell 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. 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). A significant part of the positive culture was OConnell and Cousins working together in lockstep. The coach has made it a priority to educate himself on the particulars of the teams cap constraints. 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. 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. Looking back on Vikings history, they have stumbled trying to find a franchise quarterback. 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. That OConnell even cited this statistic demonstrates the team is thinking about how to fully maximize its offense. Under the guidance of O'Connell, Rams QB Matthew Stafford and WR Cooper Kupp both had a career years in 2021. My main goal was just to connect with him and build on a relationship that I thought was strong already. He takes it very seriously how much people and young kids look up to him. The victories and records set on the way to winning the NFC North for the first time since 2017 enabled Minnesota to host a playoff game for the first time in five years, but that excitement ended abruptly Sunday when the Giants topped the Vikings 31-24. It's supposed to sting.' 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. 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. 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." 4 takeaways from Vikings HC Kevin O'Connell's combine press conference [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. 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. Right. 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. 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. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. Kevin is currently the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings and his salary is $84 million for three years. Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah on the futures of Kirk Cousins and Justin Jefferson. Youve got to ask yourself the question: Why?. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. I am committed to working tirelessly to bring them a Super Bowl championship.". "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? The numbers bear out OConnells observation. A lot of guys come in here and say they want to start in the NFL on Day 1. O'Connell graduated from San Diego State University in December 2007 with a degree in political science. NFL footage NFL Productions LLC. O'Connell is the son of a former FBI agent. 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. Anchored by T Andrew Whitworth, the oldest offensive lineman in the NFL, the Rams offensive line only allowed 56 sacks in the two years O'Connell was in Los Angeles, which was good for the seventh-fewest among NFL clubs. 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. 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? One of those decisions involves quarterback Kirk Cousins. 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 offensive line's sack rate, 4.5%, was the fifth-lowest in the NFL over the past two years. 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. But this regime doesnt seem to be looking for a quarterback, theyre looking for the quarterback. (OConnell is 6-foot-5, so his frame provides a solid comparison.). 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. Alabama quarterback Bryce Young, whose size has been a matter of conjecture in the run-up to the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine, officially measured in at 5-foot-10 1/8 and 204 pounds on Saturday. 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.. 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.. 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. 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. His team won 13 games and the NFLPA just said his teams culture was the best in the league. 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. Those are all questions we got to answer. Understanding the goals of culture and the goals of building up through our leadership and setting a foundation and platform for every individual in this building to feel like they can thrive and grow and eventually reach their truest, highest potential. The information does not usually directly identify you, but it can give you a more personalised web experience. But Kevin OConnells comments later in the week made it sound like something bigger was in the works. The home runs and long ones are great, but as a play caller, Id love to be second-and-5. 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. And trading him post June 1 would save the team $35 million of that against their cap. "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. 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. 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). View images from the Vikings locker room at TCO Performance Center on Monday as players cleaned out their lockers at the end of the 2022-23 season. If they want a quarterback in this draft, they seem willing to find a way to get them. The Minnesota Vikings named Kevin O'Connell as the 10th head coach in franchise history on Feb. 16, 2022. . 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. 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. Vikings Kevin O'Connell: Takeaways from NFL Scouting Combine presser As he reviewed the way defenses matched up against his team, OConnell noticed a trend. 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?. As we use the process of free agency and the draft to really take a look at how to evolve and fit what we want to do.. Theres a lot of different directions you can go, OConnell said, and (each decision) affects another one and another one. This time of year tends to be a difficult time when youre talking about players futures and how they affect the greater picture of our team, and those conversations are ongoing, he 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 coach Kevin O'Connell fielded questions from the media on Wednesday at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. "One of my favorite players I've ever coached, I've told him that," O'Connell said of Jefferson. INDIANAPOLIS -- Justin Jefferson led the NFL in receiving yards and receptions in 2022 while averaging 106.4 yards per game. O'Connell was selected by the New England Patriots in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft and played quarterback at San Diego State University. 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. Wide receiver Adam Thielens cap number and age (32) present another complicated decision, and OConnell is mindful of the many factors. Behind The Scenes of Kevin O'Connell's Media Day at The Combine Kevin O'Connell Salary, Net Worth, Offensive Scheme - ABTC In basketball, he was a two-year letterman, and a teammate of Arizona standout Chase Budinger. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. But the biggest question on everybodys mind was what they were going to do with Kirk Cousins. 4 takeaways from Vikings HC Kevin O'Connell's combine press conference If Levis or Richardson is the type of quarterback that answers those questions, the Vikings will likely do their best to move up. Click on the different category headings to find out more and change our default settings. A necessary condition is having a starter-level quarterback, Adofo-Mensah began. O'Connell also played for the Detroit Lions, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, and San Diego Chargers before retiring in 2012. But even if they do like mayo in their coffee, it seems like OConnell is bringing a thorough evaluation process to find their guy. Kevin O'Connell believes Justin Jefferson has 'just scratched the Thielen will turn 33 this summer and incur a $19.9 million cap hit against the Vikings salary cap. He spent his childhood in Carlsbad, California, where he attended La Costa Canyon High School. In July 2017, Kirk Cousins became the first quarterback to play under the franchise tag for the second consecutive year. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. 3. O'Connell has an older sister, Kelly, who is an attorney. Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson put on a show Saturday at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine, making history during his highly anticipated workout. Even if the Vikings agree to a long-term extension, they seem to be willing to wait until their version of Mr. He had been placed on the injured reserve list. However, neither seem like a good option now. Certainly the facilities would have gotten an A+ last year but its hard to imagine they would have ranked No. 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. Get a behind-the-scenes look at Vikings Head Coach Kevin O'Connell's media day last week at the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine. 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. Vikings Players Close Out Season with Locker Room Clean Out. Kevin O'Connell - Minnesota Vikings Follow us for breaking news and latest updates. Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell isn't saying if Ed Donatell will return as defensive coordinator for the 2023 season. So, well see what happens.. 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. However, there is no mistaking the reality. 5. He was also born in Minnesota. Vikings officially name Kevin O'Connell their new head coach 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. Theres a reason why I feel so strongly about Kirk, OConnell said. Thats because talking about culture is a good way to spend time talking about anything else other than upcoming decisions, draft philosophies, scheme changes etc. Predictability, then, provides comfort to defenses. Already Subscribed? We haven't shown our ability to come in year-in, year-out and do those things. Because we respect your right to privacy, you can choose not to allow some types of cookies. They needed more receivers on the field. The Minnesota Vikings announced Wednesday that Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O'Connell has been hired as the 10th head coach in franchise history. 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. How long does he meet that threshold? His net worth is somewhere between $30 million to $35 million. Sources: O'Connell finalizing contract with Vikings - KUSA.com Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. 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. 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. 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. [2], O'Connell played in both the 2008 Hula Bowl and the 2008 East-West Shrine Game. Meetings with general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and executive vice president of football operations Rob Brzezinski have helped OConnell in this regard. Is it to that standard? 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..