Kevin O’Connell & DeMeco Ryans Among Top Candidates For Vikings’ HC Job

Aaron Wilson is reporting that the Vikings are keeping close tabs on Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell for their head-coaching job and are expected to bring him in for a second interview. 

According to Wilson, O’Connell and 49ers DC DeMeco Ryans are among the top candidates for the Vikings’ head coach job.

Here’s the updated list of candidates for the Vikings’ job:

• Eagles DC Jonathan Gannon (Interviewed)
• Cowboys OC Kellen Moore (Interviewed)
• 49ers DC DeMeco Ryans (Interviewed)
• Buccaneers DC Todd Bowles (Interviewed)
• Rams OC Kevin O’Connell (Interviewed)
• Rams DC Raheem Morris (Interviewed)
• Giants DC Patrick Graham (Interviewed)
• Packers OC Nathaniel Hackett (Interviewed)
• Michigan HC Jim Harbaugh (Scheduled)
• Cowboys DC Dan Quinn (Withdrawn)

O’Connell, 36, is a former third-round pick of the Patriots back in 2008. After five years in the NFL, O’Connell was hired by the Browns as their quarterbacks’ coach in 2015.

O’Connell spent one year with the 49ers before Washington hired him as their quarterbacks’ coach in 2017. He was promoted to passing game coordinator in 2019 and joined the Rams as offensive coordinator in 2020. 

In 2021, the Rams’ offense ranks No. 9 in total yards, No. 7 in total points, No. 25 in rushing yards and No. 5 in passing offense.

Ryans, 37, is a former second-round pick of the Texans back in 2006. He spent six years in Texans before he was traded to the Eagles in 2012.

Ryans was in the final year of his two-year, $7.5 million contract when he was released by Philadelphia. 

Ryans sat out the 2016 season before taking a defensive quality control coaching job with the 49ers. San Francisco promoted Ryans to inside linebackers coach a year later. In January 2021, Ryans was promoted to defensive coordinator by the 49ers and was also a head coaching candidate that offseason.

In 2021, the 49ers defense ranked No. 3 in fewest yards allowed, No. 9 in fewest points allowed, No. 7 in fewest rushing yards allowed, and No. 6 in fewest passing yards allowed.