The Cleveland Browns and Minnesota Vikings may be tied together for the foreseeable future. It started when the Browns hired long-time Vikings coach Kevin Stefanski as their head coach before the 2020 season. Stefanski went on to lead Cleveland to the playoffs his first year and win Coach of the Year.
Two years later, the Vikings hired Browns executive Kwesi Adofo-Mensah to be their new general manager. Adofo-Mensah beat out a number of other contenders for the position this offseason and should give Cleveland additional draft picks for his hiring. Those extra picks should help the Browns build around Baker Mayfield who they expect to have a “bounce back year” in 2022.
Now comes word that former Cleveland quarterback’s coach Kevin O’Connell will be hired by Minnesota as their next head coach:
The #Vikings are zeroing in on #Rams OC Kevin O’Connell as their head coach, sources tell me and @RapSheet. The deal can’t be finalized until after the Super Bowl.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) February 3, 2022
O’Connell’s first coaching job was with the Browns in 2015. Prior to that, he had bounced around the league after being drafted in the third round by the New England Patriots. As a player, O’Connell only played in two games and attempted six passes.
After his one-year stint in Cleveland, O’Connell was on staff with the San Fransisco 49ers in 2016 where he crossed paths with Adofo-Mensah, who was also with the team.
With the Los Angeles Rams in the Super Bowl, Minnesota will have to wait to make his announcement official. O’Connell has been the Rams offensive coordinator under Sean McVay for the past two seasons after holding that role in Washington for one season.
Earlier in this hiring cycle, former Browns coach Brian Daboll also got his first head coaching job with the New York Giants and former linebackers coach (2009-2010) Matt Eberflus got his first head job with the Chicago Bears.