Vikings request to interview Lions coach for defensive coordinator job
By Adam Patrick
The Minnesota Vikings have reportedly requested to interview Detroit Lions defensive backs coach Aubrey Pleasant about their defensive coordinator opening.
Currently, new Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell is helping prepare the Los Angeles Rams for their upcoming matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals in the Super Bowl. Once that contest concludes, it shouldn’t be long until the Vikings officially announce O’Connell as the 10th head coach in the history of the franchise.
Even though his hiring hasn’t been made official yet, Minnesota is still working on putting together a coaching staff around O’Connell.
On Monday, the Vikings reportedly put in a request to interview current Detroit Lions defensive backs coach Aubrey Pleasant to potentially be O’Connell’s defensive coordinator in Minnesota according to NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero and Steve Wyche.
Minnesota Vikings reportedly interested in Detroit Lions assistant as new defensive coordinator
In 2021, the Lions hired Pleasant to be their defensive backs coach and their passing game coordinator. Prior to joining Detroit last year, he spent four seasons as the Los Angeles Rams cornerbacks coach from 2017 to 2020.
Before his time with the Rams, Pleasant also spent time on the sidelines with the Cleveland Browns (2013) and Washington Commanders (2013 to 2016).
When it comes to a connection with O’Connell, he and Pleasant both worked together when the two were members of the Rams coaching staff in 2020.
Pleasant has never been a defensive coordinator in the NFL before, so it would certainly be an interesting hire if the Vikings were to bring him aboard.
Given how young O’Connell is (36-years-old), one might assume he would want his defensive coordinator and offensive coordinator to have a significant amount of experience in the role in the past. But maybe he wants to take a different path.
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Pleasant likely won’t be the only one to interview for Minnesota’s defensive coordinator job though. It will certainly be a position on the Vikings’ staff that many will be paying attention to during the next few weeks.