Were going to continue to look at whats the best route to go moving forward (with Thielen), OConnell said. Click on the different category headings to find out more and change our default settings. O'Connell was waived by the Patriots on August 30, 2009, two days after a preseason game in which starting quarterback Tom Brady was injured, and, in the second half, O'Connell threw two interceptions and only threw 3 completions on 10 attempts. He was 11-of-21 for 147 yards, and completed the pass which resulted in the Kai's only score of the game.[6]. 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. That ultimately led the Vikings to Cousins. Because we respect your right to privacy, you can choose not to allow some types of cookies. Alabama quarterback Bryce Young, whose size has been a matter of conjecture in the run-up to the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine, officially measured in at 5-foot-10 1/8 and 204 pounds on Saturday. Quarterbacks are never far from OConnells mind. He reiterated that he is proud of the way Cousins played in 2022 and is looking forward to seeing the 34-year-old build on things in 2023. "And then, sure enough, she ended up in the same place. 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. He grew up in Birmingham, Ala., and has written for Yahoo, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and the Kansas City Star, among many other places. 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. The 2020 Rams offense featured the 10th-ranked rushing attack, posting 126.1 yards per game on the ground, behind two 600-plus rushing seasons from RB Cam Akers and RB Darrell Henderson. 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. KARE 11 Sports Director. I believe in him as a player.. O'Connell also played for the Detroit Lions, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, and San Diego Chargers before retiring in 2012. Linebacker Eric Kendricks referred to a fear-based culture in a conference call after the former HC and GM were let go and players acknowledged meeting with ownership in which they asked for improvements in the overall environment. As a four-year captain at San Diego State, O'Connell finished his career after appearing in 40 games while ranking third in completions (664), fourth in passing yards (7,689) and fifth in passing touchdowns (46) in school history. 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. Whatever the plan, timing is everything for the Vikings. 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. In addition to helping QB Jared Goff to his fourth consecutive of at least 3,800 passing yards and 20 touchdowns in 2020, O'Connell prepared QB John Wolford for a win-and-in game against the Cardinals in Week 17, helping him pass for 231 yards and rush for 56 more in his NFL debut, while leading the Rams to a 18-7 victory and a playoff berth. On February 17, 2015, it was announced that O'Connell was named to the position of quarterbacks coach of the Cleveland Browns for the 2015 NFL season. 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. He was also born in Minnesota. But even if they do like mayo in their coffee, it seems like OConnell is bringing a thorough evaluation process to find their guy. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. And in 2022, Cousins is scheduled to cost the Vikings $45 million on their salary cap. How do you go forward building it from here? What he means to our league, how he carries himself, how he works every day. The home runs and long ones are great, but as a play caller, Id love to be second-and-5. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. [21] In 2019, under interim head coach Bill Callahan, O'Connell was promoted to offensive coordinator. Florida's Anthony Richardson, one of the draft's most intriguing QB prospects, told reporters on Friday that in high school he modeled his game after two notable passers: Cam Newton and Lamar Jackson. 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. . But its hard not to wonder what would have happened if he looked ahead, saw Andrew Luck on the horizon and just rode the corpse of Donovan McNabb to the finish line to select Luck, Russell Wilson, or Cousins (!!!) But theres a foundation of care., OConnell said the conversations with Cousins are ongoing., Its not like theres some secret thing going on, OConnell said. Passing, he ranked tenth in yardage, eighth in attempts, and seventh in completions. 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. Pelissero noted that Brown, who interviewed for the Miami Dolphins head coaching position, is considered a "rising assistant" and is a candidate to replace O'Connell in Los Angeles. On Wednesday, OConnell said hes hoping that their shared experience in 2022 will help both sides satisfy their needs. O'Connell is the son of a former FBI agent. Coming off a Super Bowl LVI victory over the Cincinnati. "But I wouldn't say that we're that established, 'there' team because we haven't shown it yet. But the biggest question on everybodys mind was what they were going to do with Kirk Cousins. 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. Kevin O'Connell: Vikings have 'some real decisions' ahead to get under salary cap By Alec Lewis Mar 1, 2023 14 INDIANAPOLIS Following his news conference Wednesday afternoon at the NFL. The more I can learn about details and particulars of our current situation, previous situations and what it looks like moving forward, OConnell said, the more my conversations can not only come from an accurate place of where we are but where we hope to get to.. Kevin O'Connell had some interesting things to say about the direction the Minnesota Vikings want to go as they look ahead to the 2023 NFL season. Since the start of 2019, Thielen ranks fifth in the NFL in touchdown receptions (36), trailing only Davante Adams (48), Mike Evans (41), Tyreek Hill (38), and Travis Kelce (37). Right comes along. The numbers bear out OConnells observation. [2] At La Costa Canyon, O'Connell lettered in both football and basketball. [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. 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. 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. Even if the Vikings agree to a long-term extension, they seem to be willing to wait until their version of Mr. 4. ". [29]. Kupp, who was named The Associated Press NFL Offensive Player of the Year at last week's NFL Honors, 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. Kevin will tease me about that sometimes. Quarterback Mike White said he'd like to return to the New York Jets, but knows it might not happen as he heads toward free agency. Following his release, the New York Jets re-signed O'Connell to a two-year deal. Youve got to ask yourself the question: Why?. Since then, there have been postseason appearances after the 2012 (loss in Wild Card), 2015 (loss in Wild Card), 2017 (loss in NFC Championship), 2019 (loss in Divisional) and 2022 (loss in Wild Card) seasons. What I was really impressed with Justin this year was the leadership, the next step. "Unbelievable talent. Brad Childress urged Minnesota to draft Tarvaris Jackson upon his arrival in the 2006, and then recruited Brett Favre as an act of desperation to lead the Vikings to the NFC Championship Game. - Page 5 . 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 with 41, while also winning his first playoff game in his 13th season in the NFL. The Minnesota Vikings have made the hiring of Kevin O'Connell as their new head coach official by sharing the news on social media. 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. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. Kevin O'Connell signed a 1 year, - contract with the San Diego Chargers, including an average annual salary of -. In the meantime, quarterbacks such as Heath Shuler, Trent Dilfer, and Jim Druckenmiller went off the board until Green finally saw a quarterback he liked in the 1999 draft, Daunte Culpepper. Minnesota Vikings' Kevin O'Connell 'excited to coach' Kirk Cousins in 2022. Some believe that is too rich for an aging playmaker and have subsequently speculated about Thielens fate in 2023. Spielman hand-picked Ponder to be his quarterback after watching a game against North Carolina and a couple of practices at the Senior Bowl. Eagan, Minn. (February 15, 2022) - The Minnesota Vikings have named Kevin O'Connell as the 10th head coach in franchise history. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. [14] He was later released again on July 29, 2011.[15]. The direct work together began in April when Minnesota could start its offseason workout program and was followed by Organized Team Activities before a summer break that was followed by training camp, he preseason, regular season and postseason. 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. When Favre finally declined, the Vikings were in another spot of desperation to draft a quarterback in 2011. 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. But Kevin O'Connell's comments later in the week made it sound like something bigger was in the works. On Tuesday, Adofo-Mensah explained that Cousins camp wants certainty if he is to sign a new deal, while the Vikings seek flexibility. For O'Connell to coach Jefferson for a "really long time," the star receiver will need a contract extension. That will motivate us to lead this organization to the place we want to go. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. Cousins' 4,093 passing yards marked his third-consecutive 4,000-yard passing season, helping him become the 11th quarterback in NFL history to accomplish this feat. [23], On January 16, 2020, O'Connell was hired by the Los Angeles Rams as offensive coordinator. Kevin played the game at all levels, which gives him a unique connection to players, and he is highly respected throughout the league. Aug 30 2009 Released by New England. Already Subscribed? But in Kevin O'Connell's case on Wednesday, he was able to beam about the Vikings' culture after an NFL Players Association survey showed proof that he made good on the cultural promises he. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, The Sopranos, and The Doors (the band). I just watch the way he carries himself every single day and week. 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. We want to be.". But this regime doesnt seem to be looking for a quarterback, theyre looking for the quarterback. All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. 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. Teams that typically played with one-high safety against most opponents often utilized two-high safeties against the Vikings. Fired up to watch these guys this fall @b_petty14 @DWatford5 @EverettGolson @Connor_Cook03 @tannerlee12 @bharrisqb1 pic.twitter.com/2TNR1YJlHt This is also a business. 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. But even if he didnt injure his knee at Winter Park, its fair to wonder if he would have ever become the long-term franchise quarterback. My main goal was just to connect with him and build on a relationship that I thought was strong already. None of that is to say OConnell is not evaluating quarterbacks in this years draft. He isnt on the same tier as Patrick Mahomes or Joe Burrow, but is good enough to hold down the position until they can find that player. 1. [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. 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. O'Connell's father, Bill, was a longtime FBI agent, and his mother, Suzanne, is a teacher. Jan 19, 2023 at 10:00 AM. But there was a sobering line of questioning from a New York reporter pertaining to Giants head coach Brian Daboll. Adofo-Mensah shared an anecdote from after the game when he was walking the concourse behind a group of fans. Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett spoke with media members on Friday for the first time since his arrest for public intoxication in late January. The process was complicated by the lack of free agency and offseason movement due to the NFLs player lockout. I think theres a conversation to be had to really see what that looks like: playing time and roles and responsibilities., "I feel better than I ever have about our chances moving forward." 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. If Levis or Richardson is the type of quarterback that answers those questions, the Vikings will likely do their best to move up. "Now, we've got to all the last phase of that is the accountability to each other, to make sure that that standard is championship worthy, and we're putting ourselves in that conversation to a man and to a woman in this building that we're looking at each other and asking ourselves the question, 'With everything we do, is it championship worthy? "I came from a business where your job is to not be emotional and if you make emotional decisions, you typically make bad decisions. Under the guidance of O'Connell, Rams QB Matthew Stafford and WR Cooper Kupp both had a career years in 2021. The Vikings won the NFC North for the first time since 2017, which was good enough for the NFC's third seed, but were defeated by the New York Giants in the Wild Card round by a final score of 3124. Adofo-Mensah admitted his elevation to GM brought him more exposure to the human elements than when he was advancing through the research-and-development departments with the 49ers and Browns. His team won 13 games and the NFLPA just said his teams culture was the best in the league. During the 2009 preseason, O'Connell was claimed by the Detroit Lions and was then later traded to the New York Jets for a seventh-round pick. Those are all questions we got to answer. However, blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer. OConnell, though, sounded committed to making it work. He's McVay's second coordinator in two years to move on, joiningformer Rams defensive coordinator Brandon Staley, who is now head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers. Is it to that standard? As a player, O'Connell was drafted in the third round (94th pick) of the 2008 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots out of San Diego State. Thielen will turn 33 this summer and incur a $19.9 million cap hit against the Vikings salary cap. 2023 Minnesota Vikings Football, LLC , All Rights Reserved. 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. Jefferson's 4,825 career yards are the most in NFL history for a receiver in the first three years of a career. Justin Jeffersons superstar turn. Having been on the visitors' sideline at U.S. Bank Stadium and experiencing that environment as an opposing coach, I am excited to now have the support of these passionate Vikings fans. They were together in Washington and grew their connection this season as the veteran QB led eight game-winning drives, won the division for the first time since arriving in Minnesota and put together one of his best games in the playoffs vs. the Giants. Its just not possible when sitting $24 million over the cap (per OverTheCap.com) to bring all the veterans back. Sometimes how you have to mold and adapt how you play while still staying true to your football philosophy at its core and its not always easy to do, but hes demonstrated that hes been very successful doing it time and time again.. Some would take this as a sign the Vikings are ready to move on. The Washington Commanders took Cousins in the []. $36.25 million against its salary . I think we laid a foundation for where we want to go. As he reviewed the way defenses matched up against his team, OConnell noticed a trend. Were in a position to do a lot of different things regardless of field position, score of the game, personnel groupings.. "When you involve people, it can make the job a lot tougher, but I also think the people aspect is what culture is and that's important," Adofo-Mensah added. KSTPs Darren Wolfson reported that the Vikings met with Florida manI meanquarterback Anthony Richardson at the scouting combine and OConnell is keen on Kentucky quarterback Will Levis despite his Orlovskian food takes. That, more than anything, is what OConnell wants to eliminate. The last remaining head coach opening in the NFL has been filled. 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. Try a week on us. 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. We want to be there consistently with the chance to win it.". His teammates voted him as a captain for what he means not only to our organization but the Twin Cities. The Vikings need to clear $23 million of 2023 salary to get under the cap. Cousins is attached to a fully guaranteed $35MM base salary. 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. Sometimes how you have to reinvent yourself week in and week out, OConnell said. Commanders wide receiver Jahan Dotson is "fired up" to work with Washington's new offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy. Adofo-Mensah also stated that there are a lot of other factors to consider what type of quarterback the Vikings could be looking for. How do you build the rest of the team? Adofo-Mensah asked. The obvious answer? Its even stronger now. The Vikings are coming off a 13-win season, but also a disappointing first-round exit in the playoffs. The Minnesota Vikings named Kevin O'Connell as the 10th head coach in franchise history on Feb. 16, 2022. 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. OConnell did note that safety Lewis Cine was ahead of schedule in his rehab from a severe leg injury suffered in London last season and that Cine has been at TCO Performance Center making regular stop-ins to his office. Prior to joining the Rams, O'Connell worked in Washington, serving as the quarterbacks coach in 2017-18 and the offensive coordinator in 2019. The Vikings were unable to officially announce that they were hiring O'Connell until after Los Angeles' playoff run came to an end. 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. Ive been very honest about that. There are some hard conversations sometimes. 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.. Predictability, then, provides comfort to defenses. Thielen notched 716 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns in 2022. Vikings Head Coach Kevin O'Connell in Photos, Kevin OConnell Brings Energy, Innovation as Vikings New Head Coach, 5 Things to Know About New Vikings Head Coach Kevin OConnell. He takes it very seriously how much people and young kids look up to him. 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).
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