The Vikings Get Their Coach

As soon as their season ended on a sour note in the NFC Championship game the Minnesota Vikings needed a new offensive coordinator. Pat Shurmur was on his way to New York to coach the Giants. Over the the course of the first week of the offseason the Vikings interviewed their quarterback coach Kevin Stefanski, former Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinater Darrell Bevell, Houston Texans quarterback coach Sean Ryan, and New Orleans Saints tight end/assistant head coach Dan Campbell. It looked like the new offensive coordinator would be one of those four but it didn't happen right away. Eventually word got out that the Vikings were interested in talking to Philadelphia Eagles quarterback coach John DeFilippo but that talk was going to have to wait. He was a little busy with the Super Bowl. The Vikings were content to wait. That revealed their interest in the coach. At first it looked like they'd have to wait until next week but the Eagles allowed him to interview before his contract expired. That interview took place yesterday in Philadelphia after the Eagles Super Bowl parade. It apparently went well as the Vikings have their new offensive coordinator.

John DeFilippo is the next hot coach in the NFL, following in the wake of Los Angeles Rams rookie head coach Sean McVay. DeFilippo even interviewed for head coach openings this offseason. Position coaches getting head coach interviews doesn't happen often. He received serious consideration from the Chicago Bears and Arizona Cardinals. DeFilippo got a two-year contract from the Vikings but it would be a surprise if he isn't stepping up to head coaching job this time next year. That's a good and bad thing for the Vikings. A good thing in that it would mean that his offense was a success. A bad thing in that he's only in Minnesota for a single season. 

Hiring an offensive coordinator was the Vikings first priority of the offeseason. They got the coach they wanted. By all accounts, this is an outstanding hire. 

"They're getting a very, very, very industrious and very young coach. He's worked his way up in the profession. Knows the game. Understands quarterback play. He's a bright young coach. Easy to get along with."

          -Bill Polian, Hall of Fame general manager

"He's a grinder. Barely sleeps. Just fundamentals, giving us the game plan, giving us all our checks, extremely detailed. I'm grateful for him. He's done an amazing job this year."

          -Nick Foles, Eagles quarterback

DeFilippo's work with the Eagles quarterbacks this year was remarkable. In only his second season, Carson Wentz was probably the pace-setter for the league's MVP award before he was lost for the season to a knee injury in Week 13. His crash-course work with Nick Foles was even more impressive. Work that ended with a Super Bowl win and a game MVP award for Foles. The Vikings need that sort of work with their quarterbacks. Before he can do that they have to pick one. They are counting on their new offensive coordinator to lead the effort in picking a quarterback. That quarterback could come from the three that were on the roster last season (Teddy Bridgewater, Case Keenum, or Sam Bradford) or maybe one that wasn't on the roster last season. That decision is the second priority of the offseason.