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Facebook Twitter Its still something I think about often, OConnell said of the loss to the Giants. $36.25 million against its salary . INDIANAPOLIS Following his news conference Wednesday afternoon at the NFL Scouting Combine, Minnesota Vikings coach Kevin OConnell met with a small group of beat writers. 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. 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. If you tell me Im second-and-5, here we go. The Minnesota Vikings finalized their hiring of head coach Kevin O'Connell on Wednesday, completing a sharp offseason shift in direction by turning over the team to the 36-year-old. Michigan cornerback DJ Turner II is the early leader for fastest player at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine after posting a time of 4.26 seconds in the 40-yard dash on Friday. None of that is to say OConnell is not evaluating quarterbacks in this years draft. 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 by a Rams quarterback with 41, while also winning his first playoff game in his 13th season in the NFL. We laugh. The Vikings officially. You won't want to miss a moment of the 2022 season! "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. 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. He played one season for the Patriots behind QB Matt Cassel following a season-ending injury to QB Tom Brady. Coming off a Super Bowl LVI victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, O'Connell. "He understands what is critical to leading a team that wins at the highest level, and he has an ability to simplify the complex, which will help us in problem-solving in all football areas. Its a path that could eventually lead to another extension for Cousins, but the Vikings are doing their diligence to find Mr. We want to be there consistently with the chance to win it.". 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 . 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. Player development at every position is very, very important, OConnell said. O'Connell worked on special projects with the San Francisco 49ers in 2016, where he overlapped with Vikings General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. 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. It's supposed to hurt. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. Kevin O'Connell who is one of the richest football quarterbacks has an estimated net worth of $5 million. That will motivate us to lead this organization to the place we want to go. Maybe its not even for any one particular year.. OConnell is well aware. Schad covers the Minnesota Vikings for Zone Coverage. Jan 19, 2023 at 10:00 AM. ". So, ultimately, we didn't accomplish the goals we wanted to accomplish, and I always want to be respectful of that. 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. Adofo-Mensah, who previously worked on Wall Street, was asked to assess where the Vikings stock is. But the biggest question on everybodys mind was what they were going to do with Kirk Cousins. In 2019, O'Connell helped guide rookie WR Terry McLaurin to 58 receptions, 919 receiving yards and seven touchdowns, the second-most receptions and third-most receiving yards and touchdowns among rookies in franchise history. Were going to continue to look at whats the best route to go moving forward (with Thielen), OConnell said. There are some hard conversations sometimes. [22] After the 201920 regular season, O'Connell was not retained by the incoming new head coach, Ron Rivera. The coach has made it a priority to educate himself on the particulars of the teams cap constraints. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. Click on the different category headings to find out more and change our default settings. Sep 9 2010 Resigned a 2 year $1.25 million contract with New York (NYJ) Aug 31 2010 Waived by New York (NYJ) Sep 6 2009 Traded to NYJ from Detroit for a conditional draft pick. The numbers bear out OConnells observation. The Associated Press NFL Offensive Player of the Year winner, Jefferson dominated opponents, generating 10 games over the 100-yard mark in O'Connell's first season in Minnesota. Under the guidance of O'Connell, Rams QB Matthew Stafford and WR Cooper Kupp both had career years in 2021. Also, by disabling these cookies you will also disable banner ads served by Google Adsense on this website.. For more information about these items, view our complete privacy policy.Read More. I'm sure a lot of fans will be going through that right now, and that hurts to hear, I can't lie, but I understand where that's coming from. 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. Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. ", "We've shown that we have a culture and an ability to do those things at a really high level," Adofo-Mensah said. Wanting to make those guys feel like their coach cares about them, both the person and the player, and their future, its real, OConnell said. Browse our online application for MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL, EPL, or MLS player contracts, salaries, transactions, and more. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. We want to be.". Follow us for breaking news and latest updates. 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. 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. These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. Meetings with general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and executive vice president of football operations Rob Brzezinski have helped OConnell in this regard. O'Connell also played for the Detroit Lions, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, and San Diego Chargers before retiring in 2012. 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. There was a mixed reaction to that pick. A year later, they have far more expertise of the Vikings' roster. View photos of new Vikings Head Coach Kevin O'Connell in photos from his time with the Rams. "I feel like that foundation's in place. In the early 1990s, Dennis Green used a revolving quarterback carousel that featured Jim McMahon, Warren Moon, Randall Cunningham, and Jeff George. [10], He was named a team captain for the September 20 game against the New England Patriots.[11]. [13] The injury required surgery. The Vikings left the Zimmer-Spielman era in desperate need of improved morale. The offensive coordinator from the 2022 Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams, Kevin O'Connell, is finalizing his head coaching contract with the Minnesota Vikings. Harrison Smith stats (2021): 73% completion % allowed, 98.7 QB rating allowed Already a projected $14 million over the 2022 NFL salary cap, the Vikings need to clear a ton of room. "He has a tremendous football IQ and is passionate about preparing, developing and communicating with his players. They worked with players they inherited, quickly assessing who was set to return and how to try to add pieces they deemed missing through a strategic approach to free agency and proceeding through the 2022 NFL Draft. 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. Kentucky's Will Levis, a likely top-10 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, spoke Friday at the NFL Scouting Combine and -- in under 15 minutes -- presented himself as arguably the most self-assured QB in this year's class. However, neither seem like a good option now. 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. Its just not possible when sitting $24 million over the cap (per OverTheCap.com) to bring all the veterans back. Minnesotas approach to their franchise quarterback seems much more scientific. If I demand our team to improve in certain areas, OConnell said, Ive got to do the things we need to do as a staff.. Some believe that is too rich for an aging playmaker and have subsequently speculated about Thielens fate in 2023. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Photo Credit: Kirby Lee (USA TODAY Sports). [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. Passing, he ranked tenth in yardage, eighth in attempts, and seventh in completions. Login Here. 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. Jefferson's 4,825 career yards are the most in NFL history for a receiver in the first three years of a career. Culpeppers injury took the Vikings into another dark period where they took a quarterback because they needed one. When Favre finally declined, the Vikings were in another spot of desperation to draft a quarterback in 2011. The third strategy is the one the Vikings currently employ, and it may be the option with the least room for error. Get a behind-the-scenes look at Vikings Head Coach Kevin O'Connell's media day last week at the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine. 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. The Minnesota Vikings named Kevin O'Connell as the 10th head coach in franchise history on Feb. 16, 2022. I am committed to working tirelessly to bring them a Super Bowl championship.". He also held the same position for Washington in 2019 after serving as the team'spassing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Right. What he means to our league, how he carries himself, how he works every day. 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. He had been placed on the injured reserve list. When you have the receiver that leads the league in yards and receptions and have three other guys with 60-plus, you feel really strongly about that group, and I still think that theres places to go where we can build upon it even more, OConnell mentioned about Justin Jefferson and his wide receiving corps. 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. Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. "As crazy as this sounds, leading the league in yards and receptions, I think he and I have just scratched the surface of where we want to go as an offense, particularly with him as our premier receiver," O'Connell said Wednesday at the NFL Scouting Combine. 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. But Adofo-Mensah gave his own review about his starting quarterback. [3] O'Connell graduated from La Costa Canyon in 2003. Even as other quarterbacks such as Willis, Desmond Ridder, and Sam Howell were there in the latest rounds of the draft, the Vikings didnt pull the trigger. So, well see what happens.. Kevin played the game at all levels, which gives him a unique connection to players, and he is highly respected throughout the league. Senior Editor. At the 2008 NFL Combine, O'Connell ran the 40-yard dash in 4.61 seconds; only University of San Diego quarterback Josh Johnson had a faster time. An NFLPA survey showed the Vikings as the best team for players in the league, bringing evidence that the changes they promised worked out, gave the Vikings the highest grade of any team in the NFL. 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. That OConnell even cited this statistic demonstrates the team is thinking about how to fully maximize its offense. 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. The Minnesota Vikings named Kevin O'Connell as the 10th head coach in franchise history on Feb. 16, 2022. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. But after a year on the bench, Culpepper took the Vikings into the next decade before suffering a multi-ligament knee injury in 2005. Vikings fans should be excited for the future of this team under Kevin's direction. . 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. ", "Making sure that the standard of knowing we've got the culture, knowing we've got the right things going in this building," O'Connell said. (OConnell is 6-foot-5, so his frame provides a solid comparison.). Those are all questions we got to answer. OConnell knows safety Harrison Smith has done much of the same. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. Along the way, personal relationships grew. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work. If Levis or Richardson is the type of quarterback that answers those questions, the Vikings will likely do their best to move up. Those are things we got to answer. 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. Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell fielded questions from the media on Wednesday at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. 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. Kupp's 145 receptions and 1,947 receiving yards both ranked as the second-highest single-season totals in NFL history, trailing only Michael Thomas's 149 receptions in 2019 and Calvin Johnson's 1,964 receiving yards in 2012. The Patriots gave no explanation for releasing O'Connell, who was in competition with veteran quarterback Andrew Walter, signed after his release from the Oakland Raiders, and undrafted free agent rookie Brian Hoyer of Michigan State. The Vikings tried to identify another quarterback when trading up for Teddy Bridgewater in 2014. OConnell, though, sounded committed to making it work. "We have to make sure we do it in an order that we can do it in given all the other decisions we have to make.". I think that's where we want to go eventually," Adofo-Mensah continued. 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.. The information does not usually directly identify you, but it can give you a more personalised web experience. The Carlsbad, California, native and his wife, Leah, have two sons, Kaden and Kolten, and a daughter, Quinn. Really excited about Lewis and his mental growth through how he handled the adversity of that injury, OConnell said. Fired up to watch these guys this fall @b_petty14 @DWatford5 @EverettGolson @Connor_Cook03 @tannerlee12 @bharrisqb1 pic.twitter.com/2TNR1YJlHt 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. . NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports that the Vikings plan on interviewing Rams assistant head coach/running backs coach Thomas Brown for their offensive coordinator position under O'Connell. On Wednesday, OConnell said hes hoping that their shared experience in 2022 will help both sides satisfy their needs. While the survey is the ultimate feather in OConnells cap in terms of retaining players on long-term contracts and signing free agents, hes aware that not everyone is going to be able to return and the team doesn't have oodles of cap space to spend this offseason. 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. Here are five takeaways from the conversation, beginning with OConnells thoughts on the free-agent decisions and potential cuts that will be made in the next couple of weeks. But the things we did accomplish, I think, were incredibly impactful. My main goal was to connect with (Cousins) and build on a relationship, OConnell said. 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. He believes he's the best receiver in football -- I happen to agree with him -- and a lot goes with that. We haven't shown our ability to come in year-in, year-out and do those things. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. 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. Quarterbacks are never far from OConnells mind. 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). It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. Coming off a Super Bowl LVI victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, O'Connell joins the Vikings after serving as the offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams the past two seasons. O'Connell led the Vikings to a 134 record on the season, tying Matt LaFleur and Jim Harbaugh for the second-most wins for a rookie head coach in NFL history. 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. O'Connell and the Rams are coming off a victory in Super Bowl LVI against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. That, more than anything, is what OConnell wants to eliminate. It comes down to efficiency, he said. 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. Jul 21 2008 Signed a 4 year $2.46 million contract with New England (NE) O'Connell joins the Vikings after serving as the offensive coordinator for the Los A. Thielen notched 716 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns in 2022. Following his release, the New York Jets re-signed O'Connell to a two-year deal. He is a genuinely positive person who will help create a high-energy internal environment.". He grew up in Birmingham, Ala., and has written for Yahoo, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and the Kansas City Star, among many other places. The offensive line's sack rate, 4.5%, was the fifth-lowest in the NFL over the past two years. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising. The Wilfs and the resources they give us to bring in the people, like [exectuive director of player health and performance] Tyler Williams, OConnell said. OConnell explained Wednesday that that process ranged from reviewing game-management decisions to gauging his teams success in various schemes and plays. 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. Finding a suitable compromise appears to be the current strategy. This organization saw a shift in how it was being defended from previous years to this year, OConnell said. Because we respect your right to privacy, you can choose not to allow some types of cookies. Adofo-Mensah also stated that there are a lot of other factors to consider what type of quarterback the Vikings could be looking for. To better myself and make sure I'm doing everything that I can in this role that I feel so lucky to have and also so prepared to have. O'Connell also helped Vikings all-time leading rusher Adrian Peterson eclipse 1,000 scrimmage yards (1,040) at the age of 34. The last remaining head coach opening in the NFL has been filled. Minnesota Vikings' Kevin O'Connell 'excited to coach' Kirk Cousins in 2022. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms.