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.
Justin Jeffersons superstar turn. Follow Alec on Twitter @alec_lewis. OConnell, though, sounded committed to making it work. They needed more receivers on the field. Teams that typically played with one-high safety against most opponents often utilized two-high safeties against the Vikings. During the 2021 season, O'Connell's lone season with Stafford, the signal caller threw for the third-most passing yards (4,886) and second-most touchdowns (41) in the NFL, all while achieving his career-best 102.9 passer rating (in seasons with more than eight starts), the sixth-best in the NFL. The Minnesota Vikings named Kevin O'Connell as the 10th head coach in franchise history on Feb. 16, 2022.
Armando Salguero: Kevin O'Connell Believes Vikings Are Really - OutKick He was 11-of-21 for 147 yards, and completed the pass which resulted in the Kai's only score of the game.[6]. My main goal was just to connect with him and build on a relationship that I thought was strong already. "Unbelievable talent. "I feel like that foundation's in place. 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. Jul 21 2008 Signed a 4 year $2.46 million contract with New England (NE) No cards were shown when OConnell was asked about Flores and the cornerback position as it pertains to the draft but it would appear that Flores will be looking for players with flexibility, whether thats in terms of position or skill set. 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. But the things we did accomplish, I think, were incredibly impactful. 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. Coming off a Super Bowl LVI victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, O'Connell.
5 Things to Know About Head Coach Kevin O'Connell - Minnesota Vikings The Vikings officially. 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. Follow us for breaking news and latest updates. I think that's where we want to go eventually," Adofo-Mensah continued. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. A former NFL quarterback who was a career backup, O'Connell has been the Rams' offensive coordinator for the past two seasons. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. Those are all questions we got to answer. That will motivate us to lead this organization to the place we want to go.
New Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell sees 'very talented roster' in He was also born in Minnesota. Theres a lot of different directions you can go, OConnell said, and (each decision) affects another one and another one. OConnell is well aware.
The Vikings are coming off a 13-win season, but also a disappointing first-round exit in the playoffs. Craig Peters. Sure, there were unsightly losses along the way, including a couple of regular-season defeats to Philadelphia and Dallas teams that each won 12 plus in the regular season and have advanced to the Divisional Round of the NFC Playoffs. 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. "It's so easy from my background to sit in front of a spreadsheet and make decisions and talk about things. As a senior, he was named his team's Most Valuable Player, and selected to All-League, All-North County, and All-San Diego teams. 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. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. 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. 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. Really excited about Lewis and his mental growth through how he handled the adversity of that injury, OConnell said. He called conversations ongoing about Cousinss future. Thielen notched 716 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns in 2022. 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. Along the way, personal relationships grew.
Sources: O'Connell finalizing contract with Vikings - KUSA.com On Wednesday, OConnell said hes hoping that their shared experience in 2022 will help both sides satisfy their needs. 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.
Kevin O'Connell traveling with Vikings to Washington after his daughter The Lions traded O'Connell to the New York Jets, for a 7th round 2011 draft pick, on September 6, 2009. 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. [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. 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. Get a behind-the-scenes look at Vikings Head Coach Kevin O'Connell's media day last week at the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine. Will that happen? 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. Facebook Twitter So, well see what happens..
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?.
He later reiterated his own self reflection following the season, saying there were a lot of phases looking at everything from how game-management and play-calling tie together to how they handle all the aspects of players schedules to the scheme. Adofo-Mensah also stated that there are a lot of other factors to consider what type of quarterback the Vikings could be looking for. Meetings with general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and executive vice president of football operations Rob Brzezinski have helped OConnell in this regard.
Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell, wife Leah welcome fourth child 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. 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.. However, neither seem like a good option now. 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 . 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.
The Vikings need to clear $23 million of 2023 salary to get under the cap. 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.. That ultimately led the Vikings to Cousins. All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. What I was really impressed with Justin this year was the leadership, the next step. But Adofo-Mensah gave his own review about his starting quarterback. 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. Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. 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. Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett spoke with media members on Friday for the first time since his arrest for public intoxication in late January. 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. [29]. 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. 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. But Kevin OConnells comments later in the week made it sound like something bigger was in the works. 2023 Minnesota Vikings Football, LLC , All Rights Reserved. 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. Prior to joining the Rams, O'Connell worked in Washington, serving as the quarterbacks coach in 2017-18 and the offensive coordinator in 2019. And in 2022, Cousins is scheduled to cost the Vikings $45 million on their salary cap. Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. 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. If you tell me Im second-and-5, here we go. New Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said he is "excited to coach" quarterback Kirk Cousins in 2022 and is "anticipating" him being a part of the team's plans. OConnell knows safety Harrison Smith has done much of the same. Minnesotas approach to their franchise quarterback seems much more scientific. Before the Super Bowl, Thielen said onESPNsFirst Take, I want to retire a Viking. It is something Ive thought a lot about.. Doing so could mean some hard decisions on key contributors from last season like Dalvin Cook, Eric Kendricks, ZaDarius Smith and others. Login Here. Ive spent a lot of time with Rob [Brzezinski] and Kwesi [Adofo-Mensah], and well continue to do that in anticipation of being at a certain place by the league year like we need to be and then, How do we go forward building it from there?. 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. 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. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. "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. But after a year on the bench, Culpepper took the Vikings into the next decade before suffering a multi-ligament knee injury in 2005.
Kevin O'Connell Salary, Net Worth, Offensive Scheme - ABTC However, there is no mistaking the reality. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work. Coming off a Super Bowl LVI victory over the Cincinnati. I just watch the way he carries himself every single day and week. Heck, it was even over 70 degrees outside. 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. The only way theyre going to improve is through hard work and understanding that accountability factor to what their goals are, OConnell explained. I think the priority first and foremost is giving him time to evaluate our roster with our young players and some of our veteran players and see how pieces may fit, OConnell said. . 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. In the early 1990s, Dennis Green used a revolving quarterback carousel that featured Jim McMahon, Warren Moon, Randall Cunningham, and Jeff George. 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. When you visit any web site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Aug 30 2009 Released by New England. 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. Fired up to watch these guys this fall @b_petty14 @DWatford5 @EverettGolson @Connor_Cook03 @tannerlee12 @bharrisqb1 pic.twitter.com/2TNR1YJlHt I believe in him as a player.. Youve got to ask yourself the question: Why?. Vikings Players Close Out Season with Locker Room Clean Out. But Kevin O'Connell's comments later in the week made it sound like something bigger was in the works. The Minnesota Vikings have an intriguing decision on Adam Thielens future with the franchise, a team that has employed him since 2013. "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? 2023 Minnesota Vikings Football, LLC , All Rights Reserved. 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. 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. One element of his teams play that must improve? 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. 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. 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. 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.
Vikings' offseason roster decisions will be difficult, but team leaders "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. 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. OConnell respects the way Patrick Peterson, soon to be an unrestricted free agent, set a standard for young contributors in the secondary. With Robert Quinn, Cameron Jordan and Cameron Heyward still on the board, the Vikings decided to get their guy Christian Ponder. On Tuesday, Adofo-Mensah explained that Cousins camp wants certainty if he is to sign a new deal, while the Vikings seek flexibility. My main goal was to connect with (Cousins) and build on a relationship, OConnell said. 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. Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports. Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah on the futures of Kirk Cousins and Justin Jefferson. While OConnell answered gracefully about his colleague, it was a reminder that they didnt finish the year with a deep playoff run. These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. ", "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. 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.
Vikings head coach Kevin OConnell provided a bit of clarity on Thielens status at the NFL Combine this week, touting the veterans leadership while hoping to mesh his pricetag with the fit in Minnesotas 2023 WR room. The coach has made it a priority to educate himself on the particulars of the teams cap constraints. 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. It's supposed to sting.' Thielen will turn 33 this summer and incur a $19.9 million cap hit against the Vikings salary cap. 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 not always easy to maintain that, but I will never change from that because I just believe thats the way youre supposed to operate.. Kevin O'Connell, fresh off a Super Bowl victory as the Los Angeles Rams' offensive coordinator, was introduced as the Minnesota Vikings next head coach on Thursday, and the big takeaway from . The numbers bear out OConnells observation. Spielman hand-picked Ponder to be his quarterback after watching a game against North Carolina and a couple of practices at the Senior Bowl. 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. And trading him post June 1 would save the team $35 million of that against their cap. His team won 13 games and the NFLPA just said his teams culture was the best in the league. Were going to continue to look at whats the best route to go moving forward (with Thielen), OConnell said. Following his release, the New York Jets re-signed O'Connell to a two-year deal. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites.
So how will he balance the desire to maximize the benefits of the culture, keep the players who helped him implement it and improve on last season while dealing with the facts of life in a salary cap league? 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.. [12] Following his departure, O'Connell found that he had a torn labrum in his throwing arm, an injury he sustained during the preseason. 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). 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. O'Connell is the son of a former FBI agent. The offensive line's sack rate, 4.5%, was the fifth-lowest in the NFL over the past two years. 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. They could have done what the Pittsburgh Steelers did by drafting Kenny Pickett in the first round last year, but they knew he wasnt the guy. Senior Editor. [13] The injury required surgery. While some coaches chose not to attend this years combine, OConnell places considerable value on meeting players in person. 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. 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 (!!!)