But Minnesota watched as Cam Newton, Jake Locker, and Blaine Gabbert flew off the board. The 33-year-old quarterback's $35 million base salary for 2022 became guaranteed last March . Follow us for breaking news and latest updates. Cousins is attached to a fully guaranteed $35MM base salary. "I feel like that foundation's in place. He is a genuinely positive person who will help create a high-energy internal environment.". "Reflecting on what we were able to accomplish as a football team an NFC North title and 13 wins it goes beyond that. 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.. Some believe that is too rich for an aging playmaker and have subsequently speculated about Thielen's fate in 2023. 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. 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." That will motivate us to lead this organization to the place we want to go. If not, they could ride Cousins another year and try their luck to acquire their guy in 2024. "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. 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. "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. OConnell said he values the way the aforementioned players embraced his hiring last year and appreciates the way they helped bring about an entirely new culture. But the. "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. 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. For O'Connell to coach Jefferson for a "really long time," the star receiver will need a contract extension. The numbers bear out OConnells observation. 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. Facebook Twitter 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. And just in all of our dialogue Monday with our players, getting a chance to meet with each and every one of them, they understand that, and they're motivated for that. We always have to be evaluating, OConnell said. 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). The Minnesota Vikings named Kevin O'Connell as the 10th head coach in franchise history on Feb. 16, 2022. . We want to be.". "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. INDIANAPOLIS If you walk around to different podiums and listen to NFL coaches speak to the media about their teams offseasons, you are likely to hear a lot about culture. Kevin played the game at all levels, which gives him a unique connection to players, and he is highly respected throughout the league. Thielen notched 716 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns in 2022. Coming off a Super Bowl LVI victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, O'Connell. "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? 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. A lot of guys come in here and say they want to start in the NFL on Day 1. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. 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. Before the Super Bowl, Thielen said onESPNsFirst Take, I want to retire a Viking. "We are ecstatic to add Kevin as our head coach," said Vikings Owner/President Mark Wilf. 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. Part of the reason for this is that the Vikings were still recovering from the Herschel Walker trade. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. Spielman tried his hand at it, scouting Carson Strong and praising Malik Willis response to an overrated chant one year ago. 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 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. He made his NFL debut on September 21, 2008, in the fourth quarter against the Miami Dolphins, throwing his first four career passes and completing three. Predictability, then, provides comfort to defenses. In basketball, he was a two-year letterman, and a teammate of Arizona standout Chase Budinger. 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. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. 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. 1. Passing, he ranked tenth in yardage, eighth in attempts, and seventh in completions. The Lions traded O'Connell to the New York Jets, for a 7th round 2011 draft pick, on September 6, 2009. "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. OConnell continued, Adam is one of those leaders that I speak of. Eagan, Minn. (February 15, 2022) - The Minnesota Vikings have named Kevin O'Connell as the 10th head coach in franchise history. pic.twitter.com/WKHqPZU8ea, Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) March 1, 2023. 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. The Minnesota Vikings named Kevin O'Connell as the 10th head coach in franchise history on Feb. 16, 2022. By COURTNEY CRONIN. He and Adofo-Mensah greet each prospect when they enter the room both to establish their culture of care and provide other Vikings staffers in the room a glimpse at the players size. converting part of right tackle Brian O'Neill's base salary to a signing bonus. 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. ". One thing I know, [Cousins] is good enough. 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. 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. On August 31, 2010, New York released O'Connell. How long does he meet that threshold? My main goal was to connect with (Cousins) and build on a relationship, OConnell said. 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. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. 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. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. [How do you] round him to make sure that you can win that way? [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. [2], O'Connell played in both the 2008 Hula Bowl and the 2008 East-West Shrine Game. 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. "But I wouldn't say that we're that established, 'there' team because we haven't shown it yet. [21] In 2019, under interim head coach Bill Callahan, O'Connell was promoted to offensive coordinator. But the things we did accomplish, I think, were incredibly impactful. Heck, it was even over 70 degrees outside. Following his release, the New York Jets re-signed O'Connell to a two-year deal. With Robert Quinn, Cameron Jordan and Cameron Heyward still on the board, the Vikings decided to get their guy Christian Ponder. But the biggest question on everybodys mind was what they were going to do with Kirk Cousins. The last remaining head coach opening in the NFL has been filled. These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. The Vikings had several needs coming off a 15-win season in 1998. The Vikings officially. O'Connell and the Rams are coming. Some would take this as a sign the Vikings are ready to move on. 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. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. In other words, hes going to look in the store window at this years draft class because he always does, whether he is shopping or not. Partnered with the USA TODAY Sports Media Group|Powered by, Signed a 1 year contract with Miami (MIA), Resigned a 2 year $1.25 million contract with New York (NYJ), Traded to NYJ from Detroit for a conditional draft pick, Signed a 4 year $2.46 million contract with New England (NE), Drafted by New England (NE): Round 3 (#94 overall). 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. Theres a lot of different directions you can go, OConnell said, and (each decision) affects another one and another one. 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. 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 . Prior to joining the Rams, O'Connell worked in Washington, serving as the quarterbacks coach in 2017-18 and the offensive coordinator in 2019. However, neither seem like a good option now. I am committed to working tirelessly to bring them a Super Bowl championship.". He noted that hes always going to evaluate all the quarterbacks out of habit and that he finds himself often looking at evaluations from years past, even when someone is coming available who came out in the draft a long time ago. "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. "Like [O'Connell] said in his final meeting, 'It's supposed to hurt. 1 in other areas before hiring OConnell and GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, particularly with a different attitude toward players and increased focus on sports science in the training room. Is it to that standard? Under the guidance of O'Connell, Rams QB Matthew Stafford and WR Cooper Kupp both had a career years in 2021. The day the Vikings introduced defensive coordinator Brian Flores, OConnell mentioned the thorough self-evaluation process that took place when the season ended. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. O'Connell worked on special projects with the San Francisco 49ers in 2016, where he overlapped with Vikings General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. "He has a tremendous football IQ and is passionate about preparing, developing and communicating with his players. 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. The more I can educate myself, learning about the details and particulars of our current situation, our previous situation, and obviously what it looks like moving forward, the more my conversations can be not only from an accurate place of where we are at this moment but where we hope to get to, OConnell said. It meets that first threshold, and thats a question that a lot of people cant answer with a yes. So we have got to make sure that we treat that in the proper importance it is.. KARE 11 Sports Director. Scouting Combine live updates Top 150 free agents Beat writer . [13] The injury required surgery. 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. 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. 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) The Minnesota Vikings named Kevin O'Connell as the 10th head coach in franchise history on Feb. 16, 2022. On August 5, 2011, O'Connell signed with the Miami Dolphins, but was waived on September 3. Those are all questions we got to answer. 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. Visit NFL.com's transaction hub for a daily breakdown. 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. . 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. As we did on Tuesday with Vikings general manager Kwesi. Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell isn't saying if Ed Donatell will return as defensive coordinator for the 2023 season. Is it to that line?' [3] O'Connell graduated from La Costa Canyon in 2003. While they can feel reinforced by the results of the foundation laid in their first year, they also know a multitude of decisions await and all teams change from year to year. 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. 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 offensive line's sack rate, 4.5%, was the fifth-lowest in the NFL over the past two years. 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. O'Connell coached QB Kirk Cousins in 2017, helping him throw for more than 4,000 yards and 27 touchdowns, and record a career-high 342 rushing yards and a league-leading four game-winning drives. Weve got some real decisions to talk through and things to work through, OConnell said. The Vikings need to clear $23 million of 2023 salary to get under the cap. 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. 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. How do you build the rest of the team? Adofo-Mensah asked. If the Vikings parted ways with Thielen via outright release or trade, theyd face three plausible options for 2023s WR2: For now, OConnell views Thielen as an unabashed team leader, but the front office must determine the fair compensation for his cap hit. The only way theyre going to improve is through hard work and understanding that accountability factor to what their goals are, OConnell explained. All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell fielded questions from the media on Wednesday at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. As he reviewed the way defenses matched up against his team, OConnell noticed a trend. 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. His team won 13 games and the NFLPA just said his teams culture was the best in the league. 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. (OConnell is 6-foot-5, so his frame provides a solid comparison.). O'Connell's father, Bill, was a longtime FBI agent, and his mother, Suzanne, is a teacher. Some believe that is too rich for an aging playmaker and have subsequently speculated about Thielens fate in 2023. 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. 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. 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. 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. He was 11-of-21 for 147 yards, and completed the pass which resulted in the Kai's only score of the game.[6]. You won't want to miss a moment of the 2022 season! Youve got to ask yourself the question: Why?. "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. Prior to his one year in San Francisco, O'Connell was the quarterbacks coach in Cleveland during the 2015 season, assisting QB Josh McCown to becoming the only player in team history to throw for 300 or more passing yards in three consecutive games. Looking back on Vikings history, they have stumbled trying to find a franchise quarterback. 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 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 (!!!) He had been placed on the injured reserve list. To provide the premier place to go to work and improve both personally and collectively as a team in our league means a lot to us, OConnell said. Craig Peters. 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). "Very thankful for him in Year 1 and really looking forward to seeing him growing both as a leader and continued dominance at the receiver position.". Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Kevin O'Connell have only held their posts for a year, but they deserve the faith of the Vikings community. So theres not one right way.. He played one season for the Patriots behind QB Matt Cassel following a season-ending injury to QB Tom Brady. 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. Were going to continue to look at whats the best route to go moving forward (with Thielen), OConnell said. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. Spielman hand-picked Ponder to be his quarterback after watching a game against North Carolina and a couple of practices at the Senior Bowl. [23], On January 16, 2020, O'Connell was hired by the Los Angeles Rams as offensive coordinator. 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. This organization saw a shift in how it was being defended from previous years to this year, OConnell said. And I also want my opportunity to show that I can play at a high level. The information does not usually directly identify you, but it can give you a more personalised web experience. 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. Jul 21 2008 Signed a 4 year $2.46 million contract with New England (NE) These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. He also writes for Bring Me The News and The Viking Age and hosts The Homer Horn Podcast. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. Following his All-Pro wideout's 1,809-yard, 128-catch, eight-touchdown campaign, Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell believes Justin Jefferson can soar even higher. This is also a business. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience.
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