Change of plans, Vikings to make Kevin O’Connell their next head coach

Jim Harbaugh is not the next Minnesota Vikings head coach as the team will reportedly hire Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell.

As everything appeared to be pointing towards Jim Harbaugh becoming the next head coach of the Minnesota Vikings, things went in a different direction on Wednesday as the team will reportedly give the job to current Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell according to multiple reports.

Since the Rams are playing in this season’s Super Bowl against the Cincinnati Bengals, the hiring of O’Connell won’t be able to be made official until after the big game.

Minnesota has reportedly contacted their other two finalists, Los Angeles defensive coordinator Raheem Morris and New York Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, and let them know that they are no longer in the running for the team’s head-coaching vacancy according to NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero.

New era of Minnesota Vikings football to be led by Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell

So after eight seasons with a grumpy old Mike Zimmer leading the franchise, the Vikings are reportedly going to replace him with a 36-year-old former New England Patriots quarterback who played his college ball at San Diego State.

O’Connell began his coaching career in the NFL back in 2015 as the Cleveland Browns quarterbacks coach. Since then, he had various roles with the San Francisco 49ers and Washington Commanders before becoming the offensive coordinator for the Rams in 2020.

With O’Connell in control of the offense, Los Angeles finished the 2021 regular season ranked seventh in the NFL in points per game and ninth in yards per game.

Things are about to be very different for Minnesota, and hopefully, all of these changes result in the franchise eventually capturing their very first Vince Lombardi trophy.