O'Connell was claimed off waivers by the Detroit Lions on September 1, 2009. Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett spoke with media members on Friday for the first time since his arrest for public intoxication in late January. During the 2009 preseason, O'Connell was claimed by the Detroit Lions and was then later traded to the New York Jets for a seventh-round pick. He believes he's the best receiver in football -- I happen to agree with him -- and a lot goes with that. The Vikings were unable to officially announce that they were hiring O'Connell until after Los Angeles' playoff run came to an end. 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. [19], O'Connell was hired to the offensive staff of the San Francisco 49ers on February 26, 2016. 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. ", "We've shown that we have a culture and an ability to do those things at a really high level," Adofo-Mensah said. Thielen will turn 33 this summer and incur a $19.9 million cap hit against the Vikings salary cap. Those are things we got to answer. They needed more receivers on the field. Vikings Players Close Out Season with Locker Room Clean Out. One of those decisions involves quarterback Kirk Cousins. It's supposed to hurt. "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. Ive been very honest about that. These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. If not, they could ride Cousins another year and try their luck to acquire their guy in 2024. The Washington Commanders took Cousins in the []. [29]. 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. Minnesota Vikings' Kevin O'Connell 'excited to coach' Kirk Cousins in 2022. On February 17, 2015, it was announced that O'Connell was named to the position of quarterbacks coach of the Cleveland Browns for the 2015 NFL season. But Minnesota watched as Cam Newton, Jake Locker, and Blaine Gabbert flew off the board. 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. The Lions traded O'Connell to the New York Jets, for a 7th round 2011 draft pick, on September 6, 2009. At the same time, proud of what they've accomplished this year and look forward to the first day of the offseason program, when we get those guys back in here.". My main goal was to connect with (Cousins) and build on a relationship, OConnell said. A year later, they have far more expertise of the Vikings' roster. But even if they do like mayo in their coffee, it seems like OConnell is bringing a thorough evaluation process to find their guy. Adofo-Mensah also stated that there are a lot of other factors to consider what type of quarterback the Vikings could be looking for. Were going to continue to look at whats the best route to go moving forward (with Thielen), OConnell said. It's supposed to sting.' "And then, sure enough, she ended up in the same place. But I did want to take the time to reflect and to move forward in the right way," O'Connell said. The Vikings are coming off a 13-win season, but also a disappointing first-round exit in the playoffs. 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. Kevin is currently the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings and his salary is $84 million for three years. 1. ", "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. 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. How do you build the rest of the team? Adofo-Mensah asked. 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. That OConnell even cited this statistic demonstrates the team is thinking about how to fully maximize its offense. Alec Lewis is a staff writer covering the Minnesota Vikings for The Athletic. 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. I believe in him as a player.. One thing I know, [Cousins] is good enough. "Unbelievable talent. 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. However, blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer. "He has a tremendous football IQ and is passionate about preparing, developing and communicating with his players. 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. 2023 Minnesota Vikings Football, LLC , All Rights Reserved. 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.. The New England Patriots selected O'Connell with their fourth pick (94th overall) in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft. I dont know. 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. ", 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. . 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). 2023 Minnesota Vikings Football, LLC , All Rights Reserved. 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.. These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. He had been placed on the injured reserve list. "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? Get a behind-the-scenes look at Vikings Head Coach Kevin O'Connell's media day last week at the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine. 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. "I feel like that foundation's in place. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. None of that is to say OConnell is not evaluating quarterbacks in this years draft. 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. . In his first season as the Vikings' coach, O'Connell has compiled a 6-1 record and the team has a 3.5-game lead in the NFC North entering Week 9. Hes the epitome of a hometown hero, universally loved, and the type of player who should retire with the Vikings. This time of year tends to be a difficult time when youre talking about players futures and how they affect the greater picture of our team, and those conversations are ongoing, he said. "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.". With Robert Quinn, Cameron Jordan and Cameron Heyward still on the board, the Vikings decided to get their guy Christian Ponder. On August 31, 2010, New York released O'Connell. 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. He grew up in Birmingham, Ala., and has written for Yahoo, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and the Kansas City Star, among many other places. 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. Jan 19, 2023 at 10:00 AM. NFL footage NFL Productions LLC. We want to be there consistently with the chance to win it.". . The Minnesota Vikings have made the hiring of Kevin O'Connell as their new head coach official by sharing the news on social media. 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. 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. 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. You won't want to miss a moment of the 2022 season! Browse our online application for MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL, EPL, or MLS player contracts, salaries, transactions, and more. 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. "Reflecting on what we were able to accomplish as a football team an NFC North title and 13 wins it goes beyond that. 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). We haven't shown our ability to come in year-in, year-out and do those things. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. Weve got some real decisions to talk through and things to work through, OConnell said. 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. 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. converting part of right tackle Brian O'Neill's base salary to a signing bonus. With their limited salary cap . That ultimately led the Vikings to Cousins. 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?. [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. Spielman hand-picked Ponder to be his quarterback after watching a game against North Carolina and a couple of practices at the Senior Bowl. 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." In basketball, he was a two-year letterman, and a teammate of Arizona standout Chase Budinger. KARE 11 Sports Director. For O'Connell to coach Jefferson for a "really long time," the star receiver will need a contract extension. 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. In football, as a junior, he passed for 980 yards and seven touchdowns. He categorized the current state of rushing in the NFL into three separate strategies: deploying a running quarterback, operating in the run-pass option world, and going the traditional route with run-pass deception from under center. And its even stronger now, OConnell said. Sometimes how you have to reinvent yourself week in and week out, OConnell said. Part of the reason for this is that the Vikings were still recovering from the Herschel Walker trade. Adofo-Mensah shared an anecdote from after the game when he was walking the concourse behind a group of fans. The Vikings left the Zimmer-Spielman era in desperate need of improved morale. [24] In O'Connell's second season with the Rams, their offense ranked 2nd best in receiving touchdowns (41), 5th highest in total yards (4,893), 8th best in total touchdowns (63), and the team won Super Bowl LVI (defeating the Cincinnati Bengals, 2320). A lot of guys come in here and say they want to start in the NFL on Day 1. On third-and-8, for example, the Vikings personnel options were limited. They want tostart every game, lead their team to the playoffs, win a Super Bowl, [but] a lot goes into what it takes to do that.. 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. He said it's between a startup and one with an ability to earn, adding "in our business, earning is wins. The 33-year-old quarterback's $35 million base salary for 2022 became guaranteed last March . And in 2022, Cousins is scheduled to cost the Vikings $45 million on their salary cap. But after a year on the bench, Culpepper took the Vikings into the next decade before suffering a multi-ligament knee injury in 2005. 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. Sure, it may not be good as a fresh bowl of General Tsaos Chicken, but it beats not having Chinese food at all. We want to be.". Cousins is attached to a fully guaranteed $35MM base salary. 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 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. O'Connell, 36, was a third-round pick . "But I wouldn't say that we're that established, 'there' team because we haven't shown it yet. 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. Kevin O'Connell Updates Adam Thielen's Status with Vikings "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. Under the guidance of O'Connell, Rams QB Matthew Stafford and WR Cooper Kupp both had career years in 2021. On August 5, 2011, O'Connell signed with the Miami Dolphins, but was waived on September 3. But the. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. The coach has made it a priority to educate himself on the particulars of the teams cap constraints. Kevin O'Connell signed a 1 year, - contract with the San Diego Chargers, including an average annual salary of -. 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. 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 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. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, The Sopranos, and The Doors (the band). Kevin O'Connell who is one of the richest football quarterbacks has an estimated net worth of $5 million. When you visit any web site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. The 34-year-old has put up good statistics over the years, including 33 TDs and seven interceptions last season, but he's never delivered any sustained postseason success. Kupp, who was named 2021 NFL Offensive Player of the Year by The Associated Press and Super Bowl LVI MVP, 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. 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. 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. There are a few fundamental things that will influence decisions, starting with whether Cousins signs an 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. 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. 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. To see the rest of the Kevin O'Connell's contract breakdowns, & gain access to all of Spotrac's Premium tools, sign up today. OConnell continued, Adam is one of those leaders that I speak of. Wide receiver Adam Thielens cap number and age (32) present another complicated decision, and OConnell is mindful of the many factors. 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. 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 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. 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). 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. 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?. 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. What he means to our league, how he carries himself, how he works every day. At the end of the day Wednesday, the Vikings head coach left the building with one of the easier media sessions youll ever run across in the NFL. in the 2012 draft. Some believe that is too rich for an aging playmaker and have subsequently speculated about Thielens fate in 2023. Will that happen? Despite entering the league three years after Stafford, Cousins is also going into his age-34 season. But there was a sobering line of questioning from a New York reporter pertaining to Giants head coach Brian Daboll. 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. Kevin played the game at all levels, which gives him a unique connection to players, and he is highly respected throughout the league. Some would take this as a sign the Vikings are ready to move on. If O'Connell's staff likes a prospect like USC's Caleb Williams . It comes down to efficiency, he said. Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell fielded questions from the media on Wednesday at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. Here are five takeaways from the conversation, beginning with OConnells thoughts on the free-agent decisions and potential cuts that will be made in the next couple of weeks. Is there a chance to add somebody maybe with different skill sets? 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.