The Minnesota Vikings are still in search of a head football coach. It was reported earlier on Wednesday that Jim Harbaugh has decided to stay at Michigan University. He had interviewed with the Vikings earlier this week, but contacted the team to inform them of his decision.
The Vikings have already pivoted toward a new candidate. According to NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport, Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O'Connell is expected to be named the new head coach.
The #Vikings are targeting #Rams OC Kevin O’Connell to be their next head coach, per me and @TomPelissero. The hire can’t be official until after the Super Bowl. But it is expected.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 3, 2022
Because the Rams will be playing in the Super Bowl next weekend, the move cannot be made official until after that. But it is reportedly expected to happen.
Minnesota fired head coach Mike Zimmer following a disappointing season in 2021. The Vikings finished 8-9 and missed the playoffs for the second consecutive season. That was the first time that happened during Zimmer's eight-year tenure as head coach. Most people still acknowledge Zimmer is a very good football coach, but the team might have tuned out his message.
The team also fired general manager Rick Spielman at the same time. They filled that position last week. They hired former Cleveland Browns President of Football Operations Kwesi Adofo-Mensah as their next general manager.
O'Connell was drafted in the 3rd round of the 2008 NFL Draft and played in the NFL for a few years, primarily as a backup. His coaching career began as the Cleveland Browns QB coach in 2015. He eventually turned that into the offensive coordinator for Sean McVay and the Los Angeles Rams for the last two seasons.
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