MOBILE, Ala. — Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell is currently interviewing for the Minnesota Vikings’ head coach vacancy in-person in California, according to league sources not authorized to speak publicly.
O’Connell interviewed earlier Monday for the Houston Texans’ head coaching vacancy. The Jacksonville Jaguars would like to interview O’Connell but have to wait until after the Super Bowl — they haven’t conducted a previous interview with the former New England Patriots quarterback.
Kevin O’Connell’s time with the Rams as offensive coordinator
O’Connell, 36, has been the Rams’ offensive coordinator since 2020. He doesn’t call the plays but works in tandem with coach Sean McVay collaborating with him to build and direct game plans. This season, the Rams ranked seventh in scoring and ninth in total offense. They averaged 27.1 points per game during the regular season.
A former San Diego State quarterback, O’Connell previously interviewed with the Denver Broncos, who hired Nathaniel Hackett.
“Kevin’s a great coach, and he has a huge say and a huge influence on how we want to operate,” McVay said. “He understands how valuable he is to me.”
O’Connell’s playing career in the NFL
O’Connell has also coached for the Cleveland Browns, San Francisco 49ers, and the Washington Football Team. He played for the Detroit Lions, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, and Chargers prior to retiring in 2012. He played in two games for New England in 2008 and completed 4 of 6 passes for 23 yards.
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“He’s the guy who I’m talking to probably on the majority of game day, throughout the week on the practice field, all of it,” quarterback Matthew Stafford said. “He’s a great communicator, and he’s done an unbelievable job of helping me get into this offense. I wouldn’t be here right now, playing in the Divisional Round of the playoffs, if it wasn’t for a guy like that spending a bunch of time with me and helping me out.”
DeMeco Ryans is another candidate for the Vikings’ head coach job
Up next after completing the O’Connell interview, the Vikings’ leadership team is conducting a second interview in-person with Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris in Los Angeles, per sources, followed by a second interview with San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans in the Bay Area.
Update: Ryans has canceled his interview.
Ryans’ defense throttled the Green Bay Packers in a Divisional Round playoff win.
A former Texans linebacker and first-round draft pick from Alabama, Ryans’ defense finished third in yards allowed and 10th in points allowed in his first season as defensive coordinator.
Ryans, 37, was previously a quality control coach and linebackers coach.
Other candidates for the Vikings’ head coach job
Other candidates for the Vikings’ job include Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh, who interviewed with the team virtually Saturday afternoon, per a source, and New York Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, who has the option of remaining in New York in his current position as part of Brian Daboll’s new staff.
