Head Coach: Kevin O’Connell
Offensive Coordinator:
Defensive Coordinator: Ed Donatell
Special Teams Coordinator:
Quarterbacks:
Run Game Coordinator/Running Backs: Curtis Modkins
Receivers: Keenan McCardell
Tight Ends:
Offensive Kine: Chris Kuper
Defensive Line: Chris Rumph
Linebackers:
Defensive Backs:
Senior Defensive Assistant: Mike Pettine
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The Minnesota Vikings started a new franchise path on January 10. The past month has felt like six. A lot has happened. A “research and development” guy was hired as general manager. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah didn’t take the traditional route to top decision-maker of an NFL franchise. There was that little dance with Jim Harbaugh. There’s been a lot of waiting. The Vikings unofficially hired Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell weeks ago. Due to his current team’s postseason success, he didn’t come to Minnesota for an interview and has yet to come to Minnesota for his new job.
At the start of the Vikings head coach search, I was a big fan of Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich. After rifling through six offensive coordinator in eight years, I thought the Vikings needed to finally have some consistency on that side of the ball. What better way to maintain offensive consistency than to have the head coach guide the offense. Especially if a new, young quarterback is in the near future. As the Vikings coaching search played out, my preference shifted to the overall team leadership that the Los Angeles Rams experienced defensive coordinator Raheem Morris and San Francisco 49ers young defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans might provide. Kevin O’Connell was a notch below those two defensive coaches. While he wasn’t my original choice, it feels like he was the choice of the Vikings decision-makers from the start.
Kevin O’Connell is the new head coach of the Minnesota Vikings. He’ll finally take the job soon.
O’Connell certainly presented a list of potential assistant coaches during his interview. His most important coaching decision is his choice for defensive coordinator. Soon after the unofficial hiring of O’Connell, Ed Donatell was reported as a favorite for the job. I was thrilled with the possibility. With a 36-year old offensive-minded head coach, a defensive coordinator with experience made sense. Donatell has a lot of experience. He started coaching in 1979. He has 42 years of coaching experience, including 31 years in the NFL. He’s been a defensive coordinator in the league for ten years with three teams. After the early reports of Donatell came news that young(er) candidates Aubrey Pleasant, Anthony Weaver, and Sean Desai were interviewed for the job. There was even a day that it was rumored that Pleasant was getting the job. Due to the flip-flopping nature that’s been my norm during the Vikings general manager, head coach, and defensive coordinator searches, I was thrilled with the young energy that Pleasant would bring to the defense. My one concern was his career trajectory. It might not come as quickly as it came for Mike Tomlin but Pleasant will be a head coach in the NFL. His possible stay as the Vikings defensive coordinator wouldn’t be long. About the time that I became comfortable with Pleasant as the new defensive coordinator came news that Donatell was once again the one. He probably always was.
The past month has been a month-long roller coaster ride.
Co-defensive coordinator/defensive line coach Andre Patterson and receivers coach Keenan McCardell were the two Vikings coaches that I most hoped would be retained by the new decision-makers. Patterson is the best defensive line coach in the league. He deserves an opportunity to be a defensive coordinator. I didn’t think it was realistic that he’d get that opportunity with the Vikings. Unfortunately, he didn’t get that opportunity in Minnesota or anywhere. He “settled” for a defensive line coaching role with the New York Giants. They got a great coach and man. From the start, I thought that Keenan McCardell was the coach most likely to be retained. When Adam Thielen and Justin Jefferson publicly and privately endorsed their coach, I was even more confident that McCardell would keep his job in Minnesota.
In the “it’s not a deal until it’s a deal” category. The Vikings had an agreement with Deshea Townsend to be the team’s defensive backs coach. He apparently had a change of heart as he’s now headed for the same job with the Jacksonville Jaguars. His loss.
I feel good about the position coaches that the Vikings are “unofficially” hiring. Hopefully, they’ll stick to the commitments that they made.
O’Connell will likely bring a Rams coach or two, or more, with him. Sunday reports had Rams passing game coordinator/tight ends coach joining O’Connell in Minnesota. Those reports had Phillips being the Vikings offensive coordinator or passing game coordinator. The Rooney Rule mandates that teams must interview two external minority candidates for coordinator jobs. The Vikings have interviews to do before they can name their offensive and special teams coordinators.
The most curious hire is that of Mike Pettine to a yet-to-be named defensive coaching position. Soon after the Vikings picked O’Connell, Jason La Canfora mentioned Pettine as a coach to watch for defensive coordinator. He was partly right. Pettine has some head coach experience. That can be a nice presence for a first-time head coach as young as O’Connell.
Kevin O’Connell just helped his team win a Super Bowl. Soon, he’ll be introduced as the new head coach of the Minnesota Vikings. Then, he’ll finally get to work.
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