According to multiple reports, the Minnesota Vikings will hire former Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Ed Donatell to run their defense in 2022.
After eight years with Mike Zimmer controlling the reins of the defense, the Minnesota Vikings are reportedly going to put former Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Ed Donatell in charge of the unit for the 2022 season according to multiple reports.
With the help of Donatell and head coach Vic Fangio, the Broncos finished the 2021 campaign with the NFL’s third-ranked defense in terms of points allowed.
The Vikings are hoping that he can come in and help fix a defensive unit that dealt with some significant struggles during the final two seasons under Zimmer.
Will Ed Donatell have the Minnesota Vikings run a 3-4 alignment like the Denver Broncos did in 2021?
For the last eight years with Zimmer as the team’s head coach, Minnesota has run a defense with a 4-3 alignment. Well, that could be changing with the expected hiring of Donatell.
In his three seasons in Denver, Donatell ran a defense with a 3-4 alignment. However, he has also run a 4-3 defense in seven of his 10 years as a defensive coordinator in the NFL, so any potential switch to a 3-4 will likely depend on which defensive players the Vikings decide to keep this offseason.
If Donatell actually does switch Minnesota’s primary defensive alignment to a 3-4, it could potentially make Danielle Hunter an even more dangerous weapon for the Vikings. Of course, Minnesota has to figure out Hunter’s contract situation first before they start to make any plans for him in their new defense.
Donatell’s expected hiring is just another example of how things are going to look very different for the Vikings this year. But all of these changes are being made with the hope that they will result in Minnesota’s very first Super Bowl win sooner than later.