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. [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). But Kevin O'Connell's comments later in the week made it sound like something bigger was in the works. It's supposed to hurt. Some believe that is too rich for an aging playmaker and have subsequently speculated about Thielen's fate in 2023. 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. 1. 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. It is something Ive thought a lot about.. 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) For O'Connell to coach Jefferson for a "really long time," the star receiver will need a contract extension. OConnell, though, sounded committed to making it work. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. There also were road losses at Detroit and Green Bay after the calendar flipped to December. 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. Senior Editor. Jul 21 2008 Signed a 4 year $2.46 million contract with New England (NE) Aug 30 2009 Released by New England. 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. 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. 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. 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. Click on the different category headings to find out more and change our default settings. Browse our online application for MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL, EPL, or MLS player contracts, salaries, transactions, and more. 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. 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). [3] O'Connell graduated from La Costa Canyon in 2003. Culpeppers injury took the Vikings into another dark period where they took a quarterback because they needed one. ", "Kevin is an impressive and respected leader who has been a part of some explosive offensive schemes," said Vikings Owner/Chairman Zygi Wilf. Part of the reason for this is that the Vikings were still recovering from the Herschel Walker trade. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. 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. Fired up to watch these guys this fall @b_petty14 @DWatford5 @EverettGolson @Connor_Cook03 @tannerlee12 @bharrisqb1 pic.twitter.com/2TNR1YJlHt 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. Craig Peters. "Unbelievable talent. The Minnesota Vikings announced Wednesday that Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O'Connell has been hired as the 10th head coach in franchise history. 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. 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. But the. [29]. O'Connell is the son of a former FBI agent. The third strategy is the one the Vikings currently employ, and it may be the option with the least room for error. 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. 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. $36.25 million against its salary . But even if they do like mayo in their coffee, it seems like OConnell is bringing a thorough evaluation process to find their guy. That, more than anything, is what OConnell wants to eliminate. We want to be there consistently with the chance to win it.". 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. . 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.". But the things we did accomplish, I think, were incredibly impactful. "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. 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. Here are five things to know. 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. 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. [10], He was named a team captain for the September 20 game against the New England Patriots.[11]. O'Connell won his first game as head coach against the Green Bay Packers in Week 1 of the 2022 season by a score of 237. I think we laid a foundation for where we want to go. 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. To say I'm excited about coaching Justin for a really long time is an understatement.". 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.. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Photo Credit: Kirby Lee (USA TODAY Sports). You won't want to miss a moment of the 2022 season! 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). 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. My main goal was just to connect with him and build on a relationship that I thought was strong already. His net worth is somewhere between $30 million to $35 million. On third-and-8, for example, the Vikings personnel options were limited. "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. Wide receiver Adam Thielens cap number and age (32) present another complicated decision, and OConnell is mindful of the many factors. 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. OConnell did note that safety Lewis Cine was ahead of schedule in his rehab from a severe leg injury suffered in London last season and that Cine has been at TCO Performance Center making regular stop-ins to his office. If not, they could ride Cousins another year and try their luck to acquire their guy in 2024. Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports. If Levis or Richardson is the type of quarterback that answers those questions, the Vikings will likely do their best to move up. Commanders wide receiver Jahan Dotson is "fired up" to work with Washington's new offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy. On Tuesday, Adofo-Mensah explained that Cousins camp wants certainty if he is to sign a new deal, while the Vikings seek flexibility. 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. "We are ecstatic to add Kevin as our head coach," said Vikings Owner/President Mark Wilf. 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. The offensive line's sack rate, 4.5%, was the fifth-lowest in the NFL over the past two years. With Robert Quinn, Cameron Jordan and Cameron Heyward still on the board, the Vikings decided to get their guy Christian Ponder. 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.. And in 2022, Cousins is scheduled to cost the Vikings $45 million on their salary cap. O'Connell, 36, was a third-round pick . 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. But this regime doesnt seem to be looking for a quarterback, theyre looking for the quarterback. 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. Meetings with general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and executive vice president of football operations Rob Brzezinski have helped OConnell in this regard. The Vikings have not gone to the playoffs in consecutive seasons since 2008-09. There are some hard conversations sometimes. While some coaches chose not to attend this years combine, OConnell places considerable value on meeting players in person. - Page 5 . 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. That ultimately led the Vikings to Cousins. 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.. 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. But Minnesota watched as Cam Newton, Jake Locker, and Blaine Gabbert flew off the board. OConnell explained Wednesday that that process ranged from reviewing game-management decisions to gauging his teams success in various schemes and plays. 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. 5. "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. 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). How do you go forward building it from here? Its even stronger now. 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 (!!!) All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com. Adofo-Mensah shared an anecdote from after the game when he was walking the concourse behind a group of fans. The home runs and long ones are great, but as a play caller, Id love to be second-and-5. Before the Super Bowl, Thielen said onESPNsFirst Take, I want to retire a Viking. One of those decisions involves quarterback Kirk Cousins. 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. 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. Heck, it was even over 70 degrees outside. New Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell, some two weeks after reaching an agreement with the club to replace Mike Zimmer, can finally wear some purple. Those are all questions we got to answer. 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. How long does he meet that threshold? The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. Kevin is currently the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings and his salary is $84 million for three years. The Vikings tried to identify another quarterback when trading up for Teddy Bridgewater in 2014. 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 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. "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. 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. 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. He is a genuinely positive person who will help create a high-energy internal environment.". Login Here. With their limited salary cap . The Vikings Will Benefit From Their Revamped Team Culture, Theres One Ideal Way To Deal With Danielle Hunters Contract. This organization saw a shift in how it was being defended from previous years to this year, OConnell said. Its still something I think about often, OConnell said of the loss to the Giants. Looking back on Vikings history, they have stumbled trying to find a franchise quarterback. [25][26], On February 16, 2022, just three days after his Super Bowl LVI victory, O'Connell was hired by the Minnesota Vikings as the 10th head coach in their franchise history. 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." Following his release, the New York Jets re-signed O'Connell to a two-year deal. 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. They needed more receivers on the field. Maybe its not even for any one particular year.. Vikings fans should be excited for the future of this team under Kevin's direction. We laugh. And trading him post June 1 would save the team $35 million of that against their cap. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising. Is it to that line?' When you visit any web site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. O'Connell, who led the Rams to finish ninth in total offense (372.1 yards per game) in 2021, helped his unit rank second in plays of 50-plus yards (10), fourth in yards per play (5.98) and eighth in offensive touchdowns (51) in 2021. O'Connell was instrumental in aiding mid-season free agent signee WR Odell Beckham, Jr., to five receiving touchdowns in eight games played with the team, the most since his 2018 season with theNew York Giants. O'Connell was claimed off waivers by the Jets on September 4, 2011.[16]. 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. While OConnell answered gracefully about his colleague, it was a reminder that they didnt finish the year with a deep playoff run. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. [But you] sit in exit meetings with players, and it becomes personal at that point," Adofo-Mensah said. Jefferson's 4,825 career yards are the most in NFL history for a receiver in the first three years of a career. Even if the Vikings agree to a long-term extension, they seem to be willing to wait until their version of Mr.
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