Facebook Twitter [4] He was the Kai team quarterback in the 2008 Hula Bowl, where he led the offense and was one of the Kai team's only bright spots. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising. Here are five things to know. O'Connell is the offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams, so he can't officially become the Vikings' new head coach until after the Super Bowl. 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. 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. 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. So, well see what happens.. converting part of right tackle Brian O'Neill's base salary to a signing bonus. Were going to continue to take a look at whats the best route to go moving forward in that room, as are all the other rooms. O'Connell was asked today if Donatell will be back and didn't . Associated Press NFL Offensive Player of the Year, Top 10 Justin Jefferson plays | 2022 season, Vikings WR Justin Jefferson named AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah compares team building through draft vs. through free agency, trades. These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. With Robert Quinn, Cameron Jordan and Cameron Heyward still on the board, the Vikings decided to get their guy Christian Ponder. Is there a chance to add somebody maybe with different skill sets? 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. Following his release, the New York Jets re-signed O'Connell to a two-year deal. So have expectations going forward, until "someday" can become "the day.". However, blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer. [12] Following his departure, O'Connell found that he had a torn labrum in his throwing arm, an injury he sustained during the preseason. The day the Vikings introduced defensive coordinator Brian Flores, OConnell mentioned the thorough self-evaluation process that took place when the season ended. How do you go forward building it from here? 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. O'Connell also played for the Detroit Lions, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, and San Diego Chargers before retiring in 2012. That, more than anything, is what OConnell wants to eliminate. NFL footage NFL Productions LLC. If they want a quarterback in this draft, they seem willing to find a way to get them. With Cousins in his mid-30s, the Vikings need to figure out a succession plan at quarterback. We want to be there consistently with the chance to win it.". It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. If not, they have the luxury of having Cousins to buy more time. He categorized the current state of rushing in the NFL into three separate strategies: deploying a running quarterback, operating in the run-pass option world, and going the traditional route with run-pass deception from under center. The coach has made it a priority to educate himself on the particulars of the teams cap constraints. 2023 Minnesota Vikings Football, LLC , All Rights Reserved. The offensive line's sack rate, 4.5%, was the fifth-lowest in the NFL over the past two years. The Minnesota Vikings have committed to quarterback Kirk Cousins for the next two seasons, banking on further improvement under new head coach Kevin O'Connell. Thats the byproduct of trying to do things the way we do. EAGAN, Minn. Eleven months and a day after Kwesi Adofo-Mensah helped introduce Kevin O'Connell from a temporary stage constructed in Twin . 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. My main goal was to connect with (Cousins) and build on a relationship, OConnell said. During the 2018 season, O'Connell was tasked with getting three different quarterbacks (Josh Johnson, Colt McCoy and Mark Sanchez) up to speed following a devastating injury to starting QB Alex Smith. Login Here. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. For what its worth, SIs Albert Breer said on The Rich Eisen Show that many teams believe that the best quarterback prospects are still in college. Behind The Scenes of Kevin O'Connell's Media Day at The Combine 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. For O'Connell to coach Jefferson for a "really long time," the star receiver will need a contract extension. The home runs and long ones are great, but as a play caller, Id love to be second-and-5. There also were road losses at Detroit and Green Bay after the calendar flipped to December. But I did want to take the time to reflect and to move forward in the right way," O'Connell said. The Vikings Will Benefit From Their Revamped Team Culture, Theres One Ideal Way To Deal With Danielle Hunters Contract. Kupp, who was named 2021 NFL Offensive Player of the Year by The Associated Press and Super Bowl LVI MVP, 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. 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! [17] He was released on August 12, 2012. Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell spoke at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine on Wednesday, March 1, and he shed a little bit of light on what the team's goals are for the offseason. 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. 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). You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work. He recently coached Stafford to a Super Bowl win, helping him post a 4-0 record in the postseason and 108.3 passer rating, which trailed only QB Josh Allen and QB Patrick Mahomes. 5 Things to Know About Head Coach Kevin O'Connell - Minnesota Vikings But after a year on the bench, Culpepper took the Vikings into the next decade before suffering a multi-ligament knee injury in 2005. OConnell, though, sounded committed to making it work. Vikings' Kevin O'Connell Expects Kirk Cousins Back In 2022 Get a behind-the-scenes look at Vikings Head Coach Kevin O'Connell's media day last week at the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine. Under the guidance of O'Connell, Rams QB Matthew Stafford and WR Cooper Kupp both had career years in 2021. You do hope it was a perfect world where you can have everybody and have everybody finish their careers where they should and feel great about it, but its just so hard to do and still build for the future the way the rules are set up, OConnell said. The Minnesota Vikings announced Wednesday that Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O'Connell has been hired as the 10th head coach in franchise history. But there was a sobering line of questioning from a New York reporter pertaining to Giants head coach Brian Daboll. - Page 5 . Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Kevin O'Connell have only held their posts for a year, but they deserve the faith of the Vikings community. "I feel like that foundation's in place. Kevin O'Connell signed a 1 year, - contract with the San Diego Chargers, including an average annual salary of -. 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. "Justin just had an incredible year, but what I liked about it the most was just the impactful plays at critical moments he made for our team, among a lot of our players," O'Connell said. The personnel department continued to be on the lookout for players who became available after their release by other teams, and the coaching staff usually helped integrate the acquired player quickly, whether it was Za'Darius Smith in Week 1 or T.J. Hockenson in Week 9. The Vikings announced their agreement in principle with Cousins on a one-year contract extension Sunday the latest high-leverage deal that Cousins has successfully bet on himself with and the clearest sign yet that the Vikings aren . 4 takeaways from Vikings HC Kevin O'Connell's combine press conference pic.twitter.com/WKHqPZU8ea, Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) March 1, 2023. Vikings Coaching Staff | Minnesota Vikings - vikings.com ". Youve got to ask yourself the question: Why?. O'Connell and Adofo-Mensah have emphasized collaboration throughout their first year together, and the first-time head coach picked up where the first-time GM left off: "As I told our team it's supposed to sting. Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell fielded questions from the media on Wednesday at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. . "And then, sure enough, she ended up in the same place. 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. 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. The Raiders plan to place the franchise tag on running back Josh Jacobs if the sides cannot come to a deal on a long-term extension by Tuesday's deadline, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported Friday. [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). Were having conversations with our players, their representation, and ultimately how all of those things shake out will be done in a way where we just want to make sure we stand by what we believe in as an organization.. The Minnesota Vikings named Kevin O'Connell as the 10th head coach in franchise history on Feb. 16, 2022. Adofo-Mensah was hired on Jan. 26, 2022 and O'Connell was named head coach on Feb. 16 after the Rams beat the Bengals in the Super Bowl. Browse our online application for MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL, EPL, or MLS player contracts, salaries, transactions, and more. Top Salaries Free Agents Extensions Tools Best Values Transactions Chargers Kevin O'Connell Embed This Chargers, QB Age: 37-208d Exp: Years Drafted: Round 3 (#94 overall), 2008 College: San Diego State Agent (s): - More Chargers - Contract Details Transactions Statistics Transactions Sep 4 2011 Claimed off waivers by New York (NYJ) Along the way, personal relationships grew. Minnesota Vikings' Kevin O'Connell 'excited to coach' Kirk Cousins in 2022. We're still feeling that here, but I will say that hurt, that sting, that will drive us. Eagan, Minn. (February 15, 2022) The Minnesota Vikings have named Kevin O'Connell as the 10th head coach in franchise history. Right comes along. The Carlsbad, California, native and his wife, Leah, have two sons, Kaden and Kolten, and a daughter, Quinn. Already Subscribed? Schad covers the Minnesota Vikings for Zone Coverage. Vikings Kevin O'Connell: Takeaways from NFL Scouting Combine presser [But you] sit in exit meetings with players, and it becomes personal at that point," Adofo-Mensah said. Vikings' offseason roster decisions will be difficult, but team leaders The Vikings need to clear $23 million of 2023 salary to get under the cap. Kevin O'Connell who is one of the richest football quarterbacks has an estimated net worth of $5 million. To say I'm excited about coaching Justin for a really long time is an understatement.". How long does he meet that threshold? 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. O'Connell's father, Bill, was a longtime FBI agent, and his mother, Suzanne, is a teacher. 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. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. "He is a strong leader, an innovative coach and an excellent communicator. Spielman hand-picked Ponder to be his quarterback after watching a game against North Carolina and a couple of practices at the Senior Bowl. But the biggest question on everybodys mind was what they were going to do with Kirk Cousins. On August 31, 2010, New York released O'Connell. "That's what led to a historic number of one-score games and so that's probably been the hardest job is adjusting to those things. However, there is no mistaking the reality. Kevin William O'Connell, nicknamed "KOC", is an American former player and a football coach who is the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League. And in 2022, Cousins is scheduled to cost the Vikings $45 million on their salary cap. 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. He also held the same position for Washington in 2019 after serving as the team'spassing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Vikings Name Kevin O'Connell Head Coach - Minnesota Vikings Wide receiver Adam Thielens cap number and age (32) present another complicated decision, and OConnell is mindful of the many factors. So theres not one right way.. 4. One element of his teams play that must improve? They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah & Kevin O'Connell Begin 2023 Vikings Standard Head coach Kevin O'Connell of the Minnesota Vikings speaks to the media during the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 1, 2023 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Prior to joining the Rams, O'Connell worked in Washington, serving as the quarterbacks coach in 2017-18 and the offensive coordinator in 2019. "We are ecstatic to add Kevin as our head coach," said Vikings Owner/President Mark Wilf. Theres a lot of different directions you can go, OConnell said, and (each decision) affects another one and another one. [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. 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. When Favre finally declined, the Vikings were in another spot of desperation to draft a quarterback in 2011. O'Connell was claimed off waivers by the Detroit Lions on September 1, 2009. This organization saw a shift in how it was being defended from previous years to this year, OConnell said. Alec Lewis is a staff writer covering the Minnesota Vikings for The Athletic. And I also want my opportunity to show that I can play at a high level. Visit NFL.com's transaction hub for a daily breakdown. Some believe that is too rich for an aging playmaker and have subsequently speculated about Thielens fate in 2023. OConnell knows safety Harrison Smith has done much of the same. O'Connell and the Rams are coming. If O'Connell's staff likes a prospect like USC's Caleb Williams . 3. 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. OConnell continued, Adam is one of those leaders that I speak of. "I came from a business where your job is to not be emotional and if you make emotional decisions, you typically make bad decisions. O'Connell is the latest in Sean McVay's coaching tree to land a head coaching job, following the likes of Matt LaFleur with the Green Bay Packers and Zac Taylor with the Bengals. 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. 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. 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. O'Connell, who led the Rams to finish ninth in total offense (372.1 yards per game) this season, 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. Players cited the tight-knit nature of the locker room and their confidence during late-game situations as a result of the buildings updated vibes under OConnell. Kevin O'Connell traveling with Vikings to Washington after his daughter This information might be about you, your preferences or your device and is mostly used to make the site work as you expect it to. [3] O'Connell graduated from La Costa Canyon in 2003. 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). 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. INDIANAPOLIS -- Justin Jefferson led the NFL in receiving yards and receptions in 2022 while averaging 106.4 yards per game. 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. The 33-year-old quarterback's $35 million base salary for 2022 became guaranteed last March . A lot of guys come in here and say they want to start in the NFL on Day 1. Its still something I think about often, OConnell said of the loss to the Giants. 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. Kevin will tease me about that sometimes. Vikings Players Close Out Season with Locker Room Clean Out. Despite entering the league three years after Stafford, Cousins is also going into his age-34 season. 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. 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. But the quarterback position, both the understanding of where that player truly is when you get a chance to start coaching him, and then what your plan is for that player moving forward.. On August 5, 2011, O'Connell signed with the Miami Dolphins, but was waived on September 3. "I think we showed a building full of people, players, coaches, staff, ownership group, this guy next to me, would have the ability to be their best when their best is required. Player development at every position is very, very important, OConnell said. Meetings with general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and executive vice president of football operations Rob Brzezinski have helped OConnell in this regard. Culpeppers injury took the Vikings into another dark period where they took a quarterback because they needed one. Rams OC Kevin O'Connell Finalizes Contract to Become Vikings Head Coach 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. Vikings, Cousins agree to 1-year, $35M contract extension I believe in him as a player.. Kevin William O'Connell Bio, Age, Height, Wife, Salary, Net worth Beyond the Xs and Os, everyone we spoke with throughout this search process spoke highly of Kevin's ability to motivate players, coaches and staff. On Wednesday, OConnell said hes hoping that their shared experience in 2022 will help both sides satisfy their needs. Follow Alec on Twitter @alec_lewis. Before the Super Bowl, Thielen said onESPNsFirst Take, I want to retire a Viking. ", O'Connell said the next step is "a championship standard" and that he wanted to wrap his evaluations and dialogue about the 2022 season the "way it should, with the same type of connection" with players and the "foundational building blocks of what we want to be. So, ultimately, we didn't accomplish the goals we wanted to accomplish, and I always want to be respectful of that. 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.
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