Cousins is attached to a fully guaranteed $35MM base salary. McCown also broke the single-game passing record in 2015, throwing for 457 yards against the Baltimore Ravens. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. [How do you] round him to make sure that you can win that way? On third-and-8, for example, the Vikings personnel options were limited. He also held the same position for Washington in 2019 after serving as the team'spassing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach. 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. 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 (!!!) Jan 19, 2023 at 10:00 AM. Some would take this as a sign the Vikings are ready to move on. As we use the process of free agency and the draft to really take a look at how to evolve and fit what we want to do.. "Reflecting on what we were able to accomplish as a football team an NFC North title and 13 wins it goes beyond that. Just scratching the surface with #18 pic.twitter.com/MpWlPV7MoN, And then, ultimately, OConnell said, youve got to ask: How do we use that information to our advantage moving forward?. Really excited about Lewis and his mental growth through how he handled the adversity of that injury, OConnell said. 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. View photos of new Vikings Head Coach Kevin O'Connell in photos from his time with the Rams. Because we respect your right to privacy, you can choose not to allow some types of cookies. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. 4 takeaways from Vikings HC Kevin O'Connell's combine press conference Theres a reason I feel so strongly about Kirk. 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! Its just not possible when sitting $24 million over the cap (per OverTheCap.com) to bring all the veterans back. The Vikings left the Zimmer-Spielman era in desperate need of improved morale. The Minnesota Vikings named Kevin O'Connell as the 10th head coach in franchise history on Feb. 16, 2022. . Different quarterbacks require different things around them but we know for sure that [Cousins] meets that threshold. Who is Leah O'Connell, Wife of the Minnesota Vikings coach Kevin O You won't want to miss a moment of the 2022 season! Part of their jobs during the comprehensive evaluation process will be setting aside those personal relationships and not letting them interfere with the process of building the 2023 Vikings to have the best chance at a championship and be within the constraints of the NFL's salary cap. [10], He was named a team captain for the September 20 game against the New England Patriots.[11]. ", "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. He called conversations ongoing about Cousinss future. The Vikings officially. Commanders wide receiver Jahan Dotson is "fired up" to work with Washington's new offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy. While some coaches chose not to attend this years combine, OConnell places considerable value on meeting players in person. What I was really impressed with Justin this year was the leadership, the next step. Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell and his wife Leah welcomed their fourth child to the family on Friday night, . 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. Under the guidance of O'Connell, Rams QB Matthew Stafford and WR Cooper Kupp both had a career years in 2021. "I feel like that foundation's in place. 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. 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. O'Connell was claimed off waivers by the Detroit Lions on September 1, 2009. Right. [19], O'Connell was hired to the offensive staff of the San Francisco 49ers on February 26, 2016. Behind The Scenes of Kevin O'Connell's Media Day at The Combine My main goal was to connect with (Cousins) and build on a relationship, OConnell said. Some believe that is too rich for an aging playmaker and have subsequently speculated about Thielen's fate in 2023. 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. Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett spoke with media members on Friday for the first time since his arrest for public intoxication in late January. Rams OC Kevin O'Connell Finalizes Contract to Become Vikings Head Coach [21] In 2019, under interim head coach Bill Callahan, O'Connell was promoted to offensive coordinator. He played one season for the Patriots behind QB Matt Cassel following a season-ending injury to QB Tom Brady. Its still something I think about often, OConnell said of the loss to the Giants. 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. Kevin O'Connell - Minnesota Vikings So have expectations going forward, until "someday" can become "the day.". But Kevin OConnells comments later in the week made it sound like something bigger was in the works. Jul 21 2008 Signed a 4 year $2.46 million contract with New England (NE) He had been placed on the injured reserve list. But the. And when I think about all that went into it, from a coaching staff standpoint, our players, our leadership of our core leaders and foundation of such a great leadership group that I was able to have in my first year as a head coach in the National Football League, I truly feel very fortunate and blessed," O'Connell added. Furthermore, the Rams' 1,186 passing yards in the 2021 playoffs were the most in NFL history,surpassing the 2011 New York Giants (1,144).O'Connell helped Kupp (478) and Beckham, Jr., (288) post a combined 766 receiving yards in the playoffs, the most be any wide receiver duo this postseason. Conversely, when the Vikings ran for zero or negative yards on first down, something they did more than any other team in the league aside from the Jaguars, they would then be fighting uphill. That, more than anything, is what OConnell wants to eliminate. Fired up to watch these guys this fall @b_petty14 @DWatford5 @EverettGolson @Connor_Cook03 @tannerlee12 @bharrisqb1 pic.twitter.com/2TNR1YJlHt 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. Sometimes how you have to reinvent yourself week in and week out, OConnell said. "But as we reflect, I think it's important to understand, be honest with our evaluations, understand taking a look at all the little things no detail is too small in how we're trying to improve as a team, improve as a coaching staff, and most importantly, improve myself. But there was a sobering line of questioning from a New York reporter pertaining to Giants head coach Brian Daboll. Senior Editor. New Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell, some two weeks after reaching an agreement with the club to replace Mike Zimmer, can finally wear some purple. 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. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. In the early 1990s, Dennis Green used a revolving quarterback carousel that featured Jim McMahon, Warren Moon, Randall Cunningham, and Jeff George. Craig Peters. Weve got some real decisions to talk through and things to work through, OConnell said. Under O'Connell, Rams quarterbacks have thrown for 1,517 passing yards (third in NFL), 11 touchdowns (fourth in NFL) and a 106.4 passer rating in playoff games (second in NFL). How do you build the rest of the team? Adofo-Mensah asked. 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. 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.. Schad covers the Minnesota Vikings for Zone Coverage. 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. O'Connell graduated from San Diego State University in December 2007 with a degree in political science. pic.twitter.com/WKHqPZU8ea, Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) March 1, 2023. The Minnesota Vikings named Kevin O'Connell as the 10th head coach in franchise history on Feb. 16, 2022. Kevin played the game at all levels, which gives him a unique connection to players, and he is highly respected throughout the league. I dont know. "I greatly appreciate the Wilf family, Kwesi and the entire Minnesota Vikings organization for providing the opportunity to be their next head coach," said O'Connell. 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. "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. These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. There are times when hes mad and when Im mad. 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. 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. 2023 Minnesota Vikings Football, LLC , All Rights Reserved. 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. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. Vikings Kevin O'Connell: Takeaways from NFL Scouting Combine presser That will motivate us to lead this organization to the place we want to go. But this regime doesnt seem to be looking for a quarterback, theyre looking for the quarterback. Vikings to hire Kevin O'Connell after being turned down by Jim Harbaugh He was 11-of-21 for 147 yards, and completed the pass which resulted in the Kai's only score of the game.[6]. He also writes for Bring Me The News and The Viking Age and hosts The Homer Horn Podcast. 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. If OConnells staff likes a prospect like USCs Caleb Williams or North Carolinas Drake Maye, they may be better served to wait especially with an aging team that will face a harder schedule in 2023. 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. Maybe its not even for any one particular year.. Thielen notched 716 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns in 2022. Kevin O'Connell Contract Breakdowns, Salary Cap Figures, Salaries Anchored by T Andrew Whitworth, the oldest offensive lineman in the NFL, the Rams offensive line only allowed 56 sacks in the two years O'Connell was in Los Angeles, which was good for the seventh-fewest among NFL clubs. O'Connell has an older sister, Kelly, who is an attorney. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. Thielen will turn 33 this summer and incur a $19.9 million cap hit against the Vikings salary cap. Kevin O'Connell signed a 1 year, - contract with the San Diego Chargers, including an average annual salary of -. 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. Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott's cap hit might be rising in 2023, but owner Jerry Jones believes his quarterback has the ability to bridge the gap in any talent the roster might lose because of it. ". Were in a position to do a lot of different things regardless of field position, score of the game, personnel groupings.. [27][28] O'Connell's Vikings hiring reunited him with quarterback Kirk Cousins, whom O'Connell had coached in 2017 (Cousins' final year with the Washington Redskins). He was also born in Minnesota. All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com. 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. O'Connell joins the Vikings after serving as the offensive coordinator for the Los A. O'Connell and the Rams are coming. Kevin O'Connell Updates Adam Thielen's Status with Vikings OConnell, though, sounded committed to making it work. Get a behind-the-scenes look at Vikings Head Coach Kevin O'Connell's media day last week at the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine. To see the rest of the Kevin O'Connell's contract breakdowns, & gain access to all of Spotrac's Premium tools, sign up today. Its a path that could eventually lead to another extension for Cousins, but the Vikings are doing their diligence to find Mr. 2023 Minnesota Vikings Football, LLC , All Rights Reserved. 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. By COURTNEY CRONIN. Minnesota Vikings: Kevin O'Connell's culture is now quantifiable With their limited salary cap . 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. "This is a franchise with a deep history and a tremendous fan base. Coming off a Super Bowl LVI victory over the Cincinnati. If O'Connell's staff likes a prospect like USC's Caleb Williams . Player development at every position is very, very important, OConnell said. Browse our online application for MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL, EPL, or MLS player contracts, salaries, transactions, and more. O'Connell oversaw the production of three quarterbacks in 2019, specifically rookie QB Dwayne Haskins, Jr. Once Haskins, Jr., became the full-time starter in Week 9, he passed for 1,225 yards, seven touchdowns, three interceptions and an 85.5 passer rating. 2. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. The Minnesota Vikings named Kevin O'Connell as the 10th head coach in franchise history on Feb. 16, 2022. It's supposed to sting.' 4. Were going to continue to look at whats the best route to go moving forward (with Thielen), OConnell said. A year later, they have far more expertise of the Vikings' roster. Despite entering the league three years after Stafford, Cousins is also going into his age-34 season. Asked about the Vikings long-term future at that position, OConnell said he surveys the landscape of the position each year out of habit. The wait is over for Minnesota Vikings fans who were a bit . Aside from the quarterback situation which is like talking about building a house and saying other than the ground it stands on the Vikings will also consider the wants/needs/system of Brian Flores as they look for improvement on defense. Teams that typically played with one-high safety against most opponents often utilized two-high safeties against the Vikings. Justin Jeffersons superstar turn. [13] The injury required surgery. All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. If not, they have the luxury of having Cousins to buy more time. The New England Patriots selected O'Connell with their fourth pick (94th overall) in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft. On Tuesday, Adofo-Mensah explained that Cousins camp wants certainty if he is to sign a new deal, while the Vikings seek flexibility. OConnell respects the way Patrick Peterson, soon to be an unrestricted free agent, set a standard for young contributors in the secondary. His net worth is somewhere between $30 million to $35 million. In basketball, he was a two-year letterman, and a teammate of Arizona standout Chase Budinger. The Minnesota Vikings announced Wednesday that Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O'Connell has been hired as the 10th head coach in franchise history. If you do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited our site, and will not be able to monitor its performance.
