Kevin O'Connell (American football)

Kevin William O'Connell (born May 25, 1985) is an American football coach who is the head coach for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He played quarterback at San Diego State and was drafted by the New England Patriots in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft, later playing for the Detroit Lions, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, and San Diego Chargers before retiring in 2012. O'Connell became a coach in 2015, serving as an assistant coach for the Cleveland Browns, San Francisco 49ers, and Washington Redskins, and Los Angeles Rams before being named head coach of the Vikings in 2022.

Kevin O'Connell
O'Connell with the Washington Redskins in 2019
Minnesota Vikings
Position:Head coach
Personal information
Born: (1985-05-25) May 25, 1985
Knoxville, Tennessee
Height:6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight:226 lb (103 kg)
Career information
High school:La Costa Canyon (Carlsbad, California)
College:San Diego State
NFL Draft:2008 / Round: 3 / Pick: 94
Career history
As a player:
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
As a coach:
Career highlights and awards
As coach
As player
  • Second-team All-MWC (2007)
Career NFL statistics
Pass attempts:6
Pass completions:4
Percentage:66.7
TD–INT:0–0
Passing yards:23
Passer rating:73.6
Head coaching record
Regular season:0–0 (–)
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR
Coaching stats at PFR

Early years

O'Connell is the son of a former Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agent. He spent his childhood in Carlsbad, California, where he attended La Costa Canyon High School.[1] At La Costa Canyon, O'Connell lettered in both football and basketball. In football, as a junior, he passed for 980 yards and seven touchdowns. As a senior, he was named his team's Most Valuable Player, and selected to All-League, All-North County, and All-San Diego teams. In basketball, he was a two-year letterman, and a teammate of Arizona standout Chase Budinger.[2] O'Connell graduated from La Costa Canyon in 2003.

Playing career

College

O'Connell graduated from San Diego State University in December 2007 with a degree in political science.[3][4] At SDSU, where he was a four-year team captain, he started 21 games, the sixth-most among SDSU quarterbacks, and ranked first in school history in career rushing yards and second in career rushing touchdowns among quarterbacks; in 2007 he led the team in rushing yards. Passing, he ranked tenth in yardage, eighth in attempts, and seventh in completions.[1]

O'Connell played in both the 2008 Hula Bowl and the 2008 East-West Shrine Game.[3] He was the Kai team quarterback in the 2008 Hula Bowl, where he led the offense and was one of the Kai team's only bright spots. He was 11-of-21 for 147 yards, and completed the pass which resulted in the Kai's only score of the game.[5]

New England Patriots
Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span40-yard dash10-yard split20-yard split20-yard shuttleThree-cone drillVertical jumpBroad jump
6 ft 5 in
(1.96 m)		 225 lb
(102 kg)		 34+1⁄8 in
(0.87 m)		 8+7⁄8 in
(0.23 m)		4.61 s1.60 s2.71 s4.38 s7.01 s31.0 in
(0.79 m)		9 ft 5 in
(2.87 m)
All values from NFL Combine[6][7][8]
O'Connell with the New England Patriots in 2008

At the 2008 NFL Combine, O'Connell ran the 40-yard dash in 4.61 seconds; only University of San Diego quarterback Josh Johnson had a faster time. The New England Patriots selected O'Connell with their third pick (94th overall) of the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft. O'Connell rushed for a touchdown in the 2008 preseason against the New York Giants in the fourth quarter, in a game the Patriots eventually lost 19-14. He made his NFL debut on September 21, 2008, in the fourth quarter against the Miami Dolphins, throwing his first four career passes and completing three.

O'Connell was waived by the Patriots on August 30, 2009, two days after a preseason game in which starting quarterback Tom Brady was injured, and, in the second half, O'Connell threw two interceptions and only threw 3 completions on 10 attempts. The Patriots gave no explanation for releasing O'Connell, who was in competition with veteran quarterback Andrew Walter, signed after his release from the Oakland Raiders, and undrafted free agent rookie Brian Hoyer of Michigan State.

Detroit Lions

O'Connell was claimed off waivers by the Detroit Lions on September 1, 2009.

New York Jets

The Lions traded O'Connell to the New York Jets, for a 7th round 2011 draft pick, on September 6, 2009.[9]

He was named a team captain for the September 20 game against the New England Patriots.[10]

On August 31, 2010, New York released O'Connell.[11] Following his departure, O'Connell found that he had a torn labrum in his throwing arm, an injury he sustained during the preseason.[12] The injury required surgery.

Following his release, the New York Jets re-signed O'Connell to a two-year deal. He had been placed on the injured reserve list.[13] He was later released again on July 29, 2011.[14]

Miami Dolphins

On August 5, 2011, O'Connell signed with the Miami Dolphins, but was waived on September 3.

Second stint with the Jets

O'Connell was claimed off waivers by the Jets on September 4, 2011.[15]

San Diego Chargers

O'Connell was signed by the San Diego Chargers on July 29, 2012, to serve as an emergency back-up in the Chargers' practices with Charlie Whitehurst suffering an injury and Kyle Boller announcing his retirement from the league.[16] He was released on August 12, 2012.

NFL statistics
Year Team Games Passing Rushing
GPGSCmpAttPctYdsY/ATDIntRtgAttYdsAvgTD
2008NE 204666.7233.80073.63-6-2.00
Career[17]204666.7233.80073.63-6-2.00

Coaching career

Cleveland Browns

On February 17, 2015, it was announced that O'Connell was named to the position of quarterbacks coach of the Cleveland Browns for the 2015 NFL season.[18]

San Francisco 49ers

O'Connell was hired to the offensive staff of the San Francisco 49ers on February 26, 2016.[19]

Washington Redskins
O'Connell in a game against the Dallas Cowboys

On January 20, 2017, O'Connell was hired to be the quarterbacks coach of the Washington Redskins.[20] O'Connell himself was promoted to offensive coordinator for the 2019 season, with Cavanaugh moving to a senior assistant role.[21] Following the season's end, O'Connell was not retained by incoming new head coach Ron Rivera.[22]

Los Angeles Rams

On January 16, 2020, O'Connell was hired by the Los Angeles Rams as their offensive coordinator.[23] The Rams later won Super Bowl LVI when they defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20.[24]

Minnesota Vikings

On February 16, 2022, O'Connell was hired by the Minnesota Vikings as their head coach, becoming the 10th head coach in franchise history.[25][26]

References
  1. "SDSU Aztecs Biography for Kevin O'Connell". Archived from the original on August 15, 2012. Retrieved February 26, 2008.
  2. Gasper, Christopher L. (September 28, 2008). "O'Connell Could be Ready in a Snap". Boston Globe. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
  3. Canepa, Nick (February 12, 2008). "O'Connell's Shot at NFL Looks Legit". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
  4. Schrotenboer, Brent (November 29, 2007). "Offensive Evolution Under Long Has Come to Pass for the Aztecs". San Diego Union-Tribune. Archived from the original on February 5, 2013. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
  5. "Kevin O'Connell Shines in Hula Bowl". Associated Press. January 12, 2008. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
  6. "Kevin O'Connell Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  7. "Kevin OConnell, San Diego State, QB, 2008 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football". draftscout.com. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  8. "Kevin O'Connell 2008 NFL Draft Profile". insider.espn.com. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  9. Kowalski, Tom (February 22, 2010). "Lions have seven picks in upcoming draft". MLive.com. Retrieved March 3, 2010.
  10. Florio, Mike (September 20, 2009). "Kevin O'Connell, team captain?". ProFootballTalk. Retrieved August 31, 2010.
  11. Cimini, Rich (August 31, 2010). "Jets cut QB Kevin O'Connell". ESPN New York. Retrieved August 31, 2010.
  12. Star-Ledger Staff (September 3, 2010). "Jets lose confidence in rookie running back Joe McKnight". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved September 3, 2010.
  13. Star-Ledger Staff (September 8, 2010). "Jets re-sign Kevin O'Connel". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved September 8, 2010.
  14. Mehta, Manish (July 29, 2011). "Jets release backup QB Mark Brunell, still waiting on Nnamdi Asomugha". New York Daily News. Mortimer Zuckerman. Archived from the original on July 29, 2011. Retrieved July 29, 2011.
  15. Vrentas, Jenny (September 4, 2011). "Jets awarded four players off waivers, including QB Kevin O'Connell; cut Aaron Maybin". The Star-Ledger. Archived from the original on July 30, 2012. Retrieved September 4, 2011.
  16. Bair, Scott (July 29, 2012). "Chargers Notes: Former LCC, Aztecs QB O'Connell signed as emergency fill-in". North County Times. Archived from the original on July 30, 2012. Retrieved July 30, 2012.
  17. "Kevin O'Connell". pro-football-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
  18. Gribble, Andrew (February 17, 2015). "Kevin O'Connell hired to coach QBs as Browns round out offensive staff". ClevelandBrowns.com. Cleveland Browns. Retrieved February 17, 2015.
  19. Jackson, Zac (February 26, 2016). "49ers adding O'Connell to offensive staff". profootballtalk.nbcsports.com. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
  20. Jackson, Zac (January 20, 2017). "Kevin O'Connell will coach quarterbacks in Washington". NBC Sports. Retrieved January 22, 2017.
  21. "Redskins Promote Kevin O'Connell To Offensive Coordinator; Matt Cavanaugh Moves To Senior Offensive Assistant". Washington Commanders. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  22. Hoffman, Craig. "Kevin O'Connell amicably departs as Redskins hire Scott Turner as OC". thefandc.radio.com. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
  23. Jackson, Stu. "Rams announce 2020 coaching additions". therams.com. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
  24. "Los Angeles Rams come back to win Super Bowl LVI 23-20 in front of hometown crowd". NBC News. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  25. "Minnesota Vikings Name Kevin O'Connell 10th Head Coach In Franchise History". vikings.com. February 16, 2022. Retrieved February 16, 2022.
  26. "Vikes officially hire 'innovative' O'Connell as HC". ESPN.com. February 16, 2022. Retrieved February 16, 2022.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.