Stefanski Time

After a string of disappointing offensive performances, Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer fired offensive coordinator John DeFilippo on Tuesday. It's never a good thing to make a change like this during the season but the Vikings offense simply hasn't been very good recently. 10 points against the New England Patriots two weeks ago, seven points against the Seattle Seahawks this past Monday night. Both losses could've been wins if the offense had managed anything close to proficiency. Much has been made of Zimmer's recent call for more runs from his offense. It has to be difficult to be a coordinator and call plays with an agenda in your head in addition to a plan. How can a game be called naturally. DeFilippo couldn't get into rhythm or any offensive efficiency. The call for more runs reminded me of Mike Tice's "Randy Ratio" to get Randy Moss involved in the offense more than a decade ago. In the case of the current Vikings, more runs for the sake of more runs doesn't necessarily mean better runs. That was especially seen in short yardage plays and in the red zone. The Vikings struggled with both. Whatever was going on it wasn't working and Zimmer decided that he had to make a change with a playoff spot in the balance.

Zimmer promoted quarterbacks coach Kevin Stefanski to interim offensive coordinator. He'll be calling the plays. It's his offense for, hopefully, the next seven games. The games could be a trial run at the permanent offensive coordinator job for Stefanski. He's paid his dues and earned the shot. He has a unique opportunity to make the job his.

Stefanski's path to the Vikings started with a summer internship with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2005. At the team's training camp, he became acquainted with offensive coordinator Brad Childress while working with the football operations department. When Childress was hired as the Vikings head coach in 2006 he brought Stefanski with him to Minnesota Vikings. He's been there ever since.

Coaching history:

Philadelphia Eagles (2005)
Operations Internship

Pennsylvania (2005)
Assistant Director of Football Operations

Minnesota Vikings (2006-08)
Assistant to Head Coach

Minnesota Vikings (2009-13)
Assistant Quarterbacks Coach

Minnesota Vikings (2014-15)
Tight Ends Coach

Minnesota Vikings (2016)
Running Backs Coach

Minnesota Vikings (2017-18)
Quarterbacks Coach

Minnesota Vikings (2018)
Interim Offensive Coordinator

Stefanski's career with the Vikings has impressed me on two counts. He's coached every offensive position group but receiver and offensive line. Even more significantly, he's survived two head coach firings and been retained by two new head coaches. That doesn't happen often. New head coaches typically want their own coaches and Stefanski has repeatedly impressed. It's been fun to see him progress with and through the Vikings organization.

For the sake of the Minnesota Vikings 2018 fortunes and his own career, I hope that Kevin Stefanski rips up the league.