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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). 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. Even as other quarterbacks such as Willis, Desmond Ridder, and Sam Howell were there in the latest rounds of the draft, the Vikings didnt pull the trigger. Despite entering the league three years after Stafford, Cousins is also going into his age-34 season. KARE 11 Sports Director. ", "We've shown that we have a culture and an ability to do those things at a really high level," Adofo-Mensah said. 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. Vikings Players Close Out Season with Locker Room Clean Out. That, more than anything, is what OConnell wants to eliminate. Players cited the tight-knit nature of the locker room and their confidence during late-game situations as a result of the buildings updated vibes under OConnell. 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?. Right comes along. O'Connell is the latest in Sean McVay's coaching tree to land a head coaching job, following the likes of Matt LaFleur with the Green Bay Packers and Zac Taylor with the Bengals. Adofo-Mensah, who previously worked on Wall Street, was asked to assess where the Vikings stock is. In football, as a junior, he passed for 980 yards and seven touchdowns. 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. But this regime doesnt seem to be looking for a quarterback, theyre looking for the quarterback. Its still something I think about often, OConnell said of the loss to the Giants. Those are all questions we got to answer. We want to be.". The Minnesota Vikings have an intriguing decision on Adam Thielens future with the franchise, a team that has employed him since 2013. At first, Adofo-Mensah makes it sound like Cousins is the NFLs version of microwaving Chinese leftovers at midnight. 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. The Vikings are coming off a 13-win season, but also a disappointing first-round exit in the playoffs. 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. The personnel department continued to be on the lookout for players who became available after their release by other teams, and the coaching staff usually helped integrate the acquired player quickly, whether it was Za'Darius Smith in Week 1 or T.J. Hockenson in Week 9. 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. Thielen will turn 33 this summer and incur a $19.9 million cap hit against the Vikings salary cap. The coach has made it a priority to educate himself on the particulars of the teams cap constraints. We're still feeling that here, but I will say that hurt, that sting, that will drive us. Really excited about Lewis and his mental growth through how he handled the adversity of that injury, OConnell said. Here are five things to know. All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. Maybe its not even for any one particular year.. Were going to continue to look at whats the best route to go moving forward (with Thielen), OConnell said. Visit NFL.com's transaction hub for a daily breakdown. But the biggest question on everybodys mind was what they were going to do with Kirk Cousins. General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah noted Tuesday that inking the wideout to a new contract is a "high priority. Adofo-Mensah shared an anecdote from after the game when he was walking the concourse behind a group of fans. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. Use of any marks, trademarks, or logos on this website shall not constitute a sponsorship or endorsement by the trademark holder. 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 following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. O'Connell's NFL coaching career began in 2015; he held various assistant coaching roles on the Cleveland Browns, San Francisco 49ers, Washington Redskins, and Los Angeles Rams (where he won Super Bowl LVI, as offensive coordinator, in the 20212022 season). [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). View images from the Vikings locker room at TCO Performance Center on Monday as players cleaned out their lockers at the end of the 2022-23 season. Under the guidance of O'Connell, Rams QB Matthew Stafford and WR Cooper Kupp both had a career years in 2021. Thielen notched 716 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns in 2022. - Page 5 . 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. Kevin O'Connell who is one of the richest football quarterbacks has an estimated net worth of $5 million. These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. 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. Its even stronger now. 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. 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. A significant part of the positive culture was OConnell and Cousins working together in lockstep. He was also born in Minnesota. These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. One element of his teams play that must improve? 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." 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. Justin Jeffersons superstar turn. ", "Kevin is an impressive and respected leader who has been a part of some explosive offensive schemes," said Vikings Owner/Chairman Zygi Wilf. This is also a business. There are times when hes mad and when Im mad. O'Connell compared Cousins to Matthew Stafford, calling each an "elite thrower," via Tomasson (on Twitter ). He said it's between a startup and one with an ability to earn, adding "in our business, earning is wins. 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. 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. 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. As he reviewed the way defenses matched up against his team, OConnell noticed a trend. It comes down to efficiency, he said. 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 . Spielman hand-picked Ponder to be his quarterback after watching a game against North Carolina and a couple of practices at the Senior Bowl. The only way theyre going to improve is through hard work and understanding that accountability factor to what their goals are, OConnell explained. "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.". My main goal was to connect with (Cousins) and build on a relationship, OConnell 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. While the survey is the ultimate feather in OConnells cap in terms of retaining players on long-term contracts and signing free agents, hes aware that not everyone is going to be able to return and the team doesn't have oodles of cap space to spend this offseason. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. Will that happen? He believes he's the best receiver in football -- I happen to agree with him -- and a lot goes with that. How do you go forward building it from here? The Minnesota Vikings named Kevin O'Connell as the 10th head coach in franchise history on Feb. 16, 2022. . He takes it very seriously how much people and young kids look up to him. 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. 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 following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. The Vikings left the Zimmer-Spielman era in desperate need of improved morale. And in 2022, Cousins is scheduled to cost the Vikings $45 million on their salary cap. How OConnell and the front office maneuver through these personnel decisions to counteract the way defenses have played them could well become a key story in 2023. Theres a reason I feel so strongly about Kirk. The Minnesota Vikings named Kevin O'Connell as the 10th head coach in franchise history on Feb. 16, 2022. 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. Jefferson's 4,825 career yards are the most in NFL history for a receiver in the first three years of a career. But Kevin OConnells comments later in the week made it sound like something bigger was in the works. Right. Jul 21 2008 Signed a 4 year $2.46 million contract with New England (NE) 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. Culpeppers injury took the Vikings into another dark period where they took a quarterback because they needed one. Kevin will tease me about that sometimes. In the early 1990s, Dennis Green used a revolving quarterback carousel that featured Jim McMahon, Warren Moon, Randall Cunningham, and Jeff George. 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. Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah on the futures of Kirk Cousins and Justin Jefferson. However, neither seem like a good option now. O'Connell was selected by the New England Patriots in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft and played quarterback at San Diego State University. At the 2008 NFL Combine, O'Connell ran the 40-yard dash in 4.61 seconds; only University of San Diego quarterback Josh Johnson had a faster time. "He is a strong leader, an innovative coach and an excellent communicator. Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell and his wife Leah welcomed their fourth child to the family on Friday night, . [22] After the 201920 regular season, O'Connell was not retained by the incoming new head coach, Ron Rivera. INDIANAPOLIS -- Justin Jefferson led the NFL in receiving yards and receptions in 2022 while averaging 106.4 yards per game. 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. But I did want to take the time to reflect and to move forward in the right way," O'Connell said. (OConnell is 6-foot-5, so his frame provides a solid comparison.). That ultimately led the Vikings to Cousins. Heck, it was even over 70 degrees outside. OConnell knows safety Harrison Smith has done much of the same. O'Connell was claimed off waivers by the Jets on September 4, 2011.[16]. That OConnell even cited this statistic demonstrates the team is thinking about how to fully maximize its offense. As we did on Tuesday with Vikings general manager Kwesi. 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) in the 2012 draft. [17] He was released on August 12, 2012. 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. . 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. 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. On August 31, 2010, New York released O'Connell. His net worth is somewhere between $30 million to $35 million. These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. 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. Its a path that could eventually lead to another extension for Cousins, but the Vikings are doing their diligence to find Mr. 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. Coming off a Super Bowl LVI victory over the Cincinnati. This year brings a different scenario. It is something Ive thought a lot about.. 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. "I feel like that foundation's in place. 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. Because we respect your right to privacy, you can choose not to allow some types of cookies. 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. He is a genuinely positive person who will help create a high-energy internal environment.". 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. So have expectations going forward, until "someday" can become "the day.". With Cousins in his mid-30s, the Vikings need to figure out a succession plan at quarterback. Cousins is entering the final year of his contract, and NFL Networks Tom Pelissero reported earlier in the week that he would not anticipate the type of one-year, fully-guaranteed extensions that the 35-year-old has signed in the past. 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. Adofo-Mensah had to explain how the Vikings, a team in salary cap hell, were going to shed salary while building off the team's first 13-win season since 2017. . O'Connell's father, Bill, was a longtime FBI agent, and his mother, Suzanne, is a teacher. Kevin O'Connell signed a 1 year, - contract with the San Diego Chargers, including an average annual salary of -. 2023 Minnesota Vikings Football, LLC , All Rights Reserved. ". 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. 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. From Week 14 through the wild-card loss to the Giants, the Vikings faced 190 snaps against defenses that played with the middle of the field open, by far the highest in the league during that period. The idea. Commanders wide receiver Jahan Dotson is "fired up" to work with Washington's new offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy. 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. 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.. When you have the receiver that leads the league in yards and receptions and have three other guys with 60-plus, you feel really strongly about that group, and I still think that theres places to go where we can build upon it even more, OConnell mentioned about Justin Jefferson and his wide receiving corps. And none of the endings feature everyone who was around last year. 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. So theres not one right way.. O'Connell graduated from San Diego State University in December 2007 with a degree in political science. 2. O'Connell was asked today if Donatell will be back and didn't . 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. 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. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Photo Credit: Kirby Lee (USA TODAY Sports). 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. [But you] sit in exit meetings with players, and it becomes personal at that point," Adofo-Mensah said. O'Connell and Adofo-Mensah have emphasized collaboration throughout their first year together, and the first-time head coach picked up where the first-time GM left off: "As I told our team it's supposed to sting. Wide receiver Adam Thielens cap number and age (32) present another complicated decision, and OConnell is mindful of the many factors. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. 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. 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. But there was a sobering line of questioning from a New York reporter pertaining to Giants head coach Brian Daboll. 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. He also held the same position for Washington in 2019 after serving as the team'spassing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Is there a chance to add somebody maybe with different skill sets? Looking back on Vikings history, they have stumbled trying to find a franchise quarterback. 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. A former NFL quarterback who was a career backup, O'Connell has been the Rams' offensive coordinator for the past two seasons. Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell isn't saying if Ed Donatell will return as defensive coordinator for the 2023 season. 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. 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. 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. The wait is over for Minnesota Vikings fans who were a bit . Follow Alec on Twitter @alec_lewis. ", "I don't want to be the Vikings GM without this guy on our team, so it's a priority," Adofo-Mensah said. 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. Kevin played the game at all levels, which gives him a unique connection to players, and he is highly respected throughout the league. Kevin O'Connell Offensive Scheme Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator, Kevin O'Connell has been chosen to become head coach of the Minnesota Vikings officially after the Super Bowl on February 13, according to the NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett spoke with media members on Friday for the first time since his arrest for public intoxication in late January. 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. "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. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. None of that is to say OConnell is not evaluating quarterbacks in this years draft. 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. 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. There also were road losses at Detroit and Green Bay after the calendar flipped to December. ", "As I spent time with Kevin during the interview process, it became immediately clear he will be a great partner in building this football team for long-term success," said Vikings General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson put on a show Saturday at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine, making history during his highly anticipated workout. The Minnesota Vikings announced Wednesday that Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O'Connell has been hired as the 10th head coach in franchise history. I believe in him as a player.. [13] The injury required surgery. The Minnesota Vikings named Kevin O'Connell as the 10th head coach in franchise history on Feb. 16, 2022. O'Connell has an older sister, Kelly, who is an attorney. Adofo-Mensah also stated that there are a lot of other factors to consider what type of quarterback the Vikings could be looking for. Asked about the Vikings long-term future at that position, OConnell said he surveys the landscape of the position each year out of habit. 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.