Kevin Stefanski returning to Vikings as offensive coordinator in 2019

After being passed over for the Cleveland Browns head coaching position, Kevin Stefanski will return to the Minnesota Vikings as the offensive coordinator.

The search for the next Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator has come to a close. After a week-long process that seemed like an eternity and featured names such as Hue Jackson, Mike Mularkey and Dirk Koetter, it has been reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter that Kevin Stefanski will stay with the team and run the offense on a full-time basis.

The Vikings’ search for the position was filled with as much drama, as one would expect from this franchise, as Stefanski’s contract had originally expired on Tuesday. With a report coming from the Pioneer Press’ Charley Walters that Stefanski was leaving on his own terms, another came shortly after that saying he was in heavy consideration for the Cleveland Browns’ head coaching position.

After Mularkey and Koetter both joined the Atlanta Falcons coaching staff on Tuesday, the cupboard was starting to get bare until the Browns decided to promote their current offensive coordinator, Freddie Kitchens to the vacant head coaching job. Seemingly minutes later, the news broke that Stefanski was returning to Minnesota.

The team’s new offensive coordinator has been on the Vikings’ staff since the Brad Childress regime in 2006 and he has served a variety of roles through three different head coaches before replacing John DeFilippo as offensive coordinator late last season.

The Vikings averaged 26 points per game and 307.3 yards per game with Stefanski calling the plays. But these numbers also include a Week 17 clunker against the Chicago Bears in which Minnesota only finished with 10 points and just 164 yards of total offense.

With a full offseason to install his system, the Vikings’ offense may look more like they did in the first two games of Stefanski’s interim run and with many young players getting another year of experience in their belt, Minnesota could be in line for a bounce back season in 2019.