Ed Donatell will be fired
Ed Donatell’s first season in Minnesota will not only go down as a disaster, but there’s a good chance that it will be his only season as the Vikings need to revamp their defense.
The Vikings were a mess on defense in 2022, ranking 28th in points allowed and 30th in yards allowed. There were constant miscommunications, several players going off the age cliff, and a layer of predictability that allowed teams to march up and down the field, and adjustments were nowhere to be found.
Donatell might not be the only person to blame for the defense, but he’ll be the one receiving his pink slip soon. When the Vikings do pull the trigger, the next step will be to find someone to replace him.
Mike Pettine worked as a defensive consultant for the Vikings, but his defenses weren’t far off from what Donatell deployed this past season. Raheem Morris could also be a candidate due to his ties with Kevin O’Connell, but the return of Sean McVay to the Los Angeles Rams could convince him to stay.
Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero could also be a candidate as he has worked with O’Connell and Kwesi Adofo-Mensah throughout his career, but he also could be in high demand.
Whoever the Vikings decide to replace Donatell, it’s clear that a change needs to happen. While the Vikings have yet to fire Donatell, expect this move to happen in the coming days.