His team won 13 games and the NFLPA just said his teams culture was the best in the league. OConnell also referenced fair compensation for his players at the NFL Combine, perhaps a nod to Thielens current contract and how it fits within Minnesotas free-agent navigability. O'Connell has an older sister, Kelly, who is an attorney. 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. None of that means anything for what we do moving forward if we dont grow and evolve and change in a good capacity, OConnell said. O'Connell also helped Vikings all-time leading rusher Adrian Peterson eclipse 1,000 scrimmage yards (1,040) at the age of 34. 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.. What he means to our league, how he carries himself, how he works every day. O'Connell is the son of a former FBI agent. 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. Adofo-Mensah, who previously worked on Wall Street, was asked to assess where the Vikings stock is. 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. 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. There also were road losses at Detroit and Green Bay after the calendar flipped to December. His teammates voted him as a captain for what he means not only to our organization but the Twin Cities. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. 2. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. 2023 Minnesota Vikings Football, LLC , All Rights Reserved. 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. 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 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.". When Kwesi Adofo-Mensah stepped up to the podium at the NFL Scouting Combine, he had several questions to answer about the Minnesota Vikings future. Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett spoke with media members on Friday for the first time since his arrest for public intoxication in late January. I am committed to working tirelessly to bring them a Super Bowl championship.". Coming off a Super Bowl LVI victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, O'Connell. By COURTNEY CRONIN. O'Connell also played for the Detroit Lions, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, and San Diego Chargers before retiring in 2012. ", "We've shown that we have a culture and an ability to do those things at a really high level," Adofo-Mensah said. Minnesotas approach to their franchise quarterback seems much more scientific. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. 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. All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. The rushing attack. 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. Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. If you tell me Im second-and-5, here we go. OConnell knows safety Harrison Smith has done much of the same. 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. converting part of right tackle Brian O'Neill's base salary to a signing bonus. One element of his teams play that must improve? When you visit any web site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. 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. 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. One thing he knows is that no matter how many As he got in a survey or wins he posted as a first-year coach, that doesnt mean they can do it all again the same way and get the same results. 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. 1. Sure, it may not be good as a fresh bowl of General Tsaos Chicken, but it beats not having Chinese food at all. I believe in him as a player.. The home runs and long ones are great, but as a play caller, Id love to be second-and-5. But after a year on the bench, Culpepper took the Vikings into the next decade before suffering a multi-ligament knee injury in 2005. But Kevin O'Connell's comments later in the week made it sound like something bigger was in the works. 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. Youve got to ask yourself the question: Why?. 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? 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 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 . The Lions traded O'Connell to the New York Jets, for a 7th round 2011 draft pick, on September 6, 2009. 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. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. 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. Heck, it was even over 70 degrees outside. But the biggest question on everybodys mind was what they were going to do with Kirk Cousins. The Carlsbad, California, native and his wife, Leah, have two sons, Kaden and Kolten, and a daughter, Quinn. "We are ecstatic to add Kevin as our head coach," said Vikings Owner/President Mark Wilf. 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. 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. "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.". 4. . But in Kevin OConnells 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 made at the last NFL Combine. I just watch the way he carries himself every single day and week. 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. "One of my favorite players I've ever coached, I've told him that," O'Connell said of Jefferson. Its even stronger now. O'Connell, 36, was a third-round pick . Coming off a Super Bowl LVI victory over the Cincinnati. 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. 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). Jul 21 2008 Signed a 4 year $2.46 million contract with New England (NE) A year later, they have far more expertise of the Vikings' roster. Will that happen? 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.. 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. The Washington Commanders took Cousins in the []. The offensive line's sack rate, 4.5%, was the fifth-lowest in the NFL over the past two years. My main goal was just to connect with him and build on a relationship that I thought was strong already. The last remaining head coach opening in the NFL has been filled. For O'Connell to coach Jefferson for a "really long time," the star receiver will need a contract extension. 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. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. 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. Even if the Vikings agree to a long-term extension, they seem to be willing to wait until their version of Mr. 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. Login Here. Because we respect your right to privacy, you can choose not to allow some types of cookies. In July 2017, Kirk Cousins became the first quarterback to play under the franchise tag for the second consecutive year. But Minnesota watched as Cam Newton, Jake Locker, and Blaine Gabbert flew off the board. [17] He was released on August 12, 2012. ", O'Connell said the next step is "a championship standard" and that he wanted to wrap his evaluations and dialogue about the 2022 season the "way it should, with the same type of connection" with players and the "foundational building blocks of what we want to be. 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." Wide receiver Adam Thielens cap number and age (32) present another complicated decision, and OConnell is mindful of the many factors. Thielen joined the Vikings a decade ago as an undrafted special teamer and clawed his way up the depth chart to WR1 by the start of 2016. One of those decisions involves quarterback Kirk Cousins. The numbers bear out OConnells observation. We always have to be evaluating, OConnell said. The Vikings left the Zimmer-Spielman era in desperate need of improved morale. Alec Lewis is a staff writer covering the Minnesota Vikings for The Athletic. Kupp's wide receiver Triple Crown in 2021, which he won after leading the NFL in receptions (145), receiving yards (1,947) and touchdowns (16), joined him with WR Jerry Rice (San Francisco 49ers, 1990), WR Sterling Sharpe (Green Bay Packers, 1992) and WR Steve Smith (Carolina Panthers, 2005) as the only players since the 1970 merger to achieve this feat. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. "He is a strong leader, an innovative coach and an excellent communicator. The Minnesota Vikings announced Wednesday that Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O'Connell has been hired as the 10th head coach in franchise history. 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 you] sit in exit meetings with players, and it becomes personal at that point," Adofo-Mensah said.
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