Report: Vikings Begin Coaching Search With O’Brien

By Adam Warwas

If Leslie Frazier’s current record wasn’t enough to convince you that he is coaching his last games in Minnesota, then today’s report that the Vikings are already putting out feelers ought to do the trick.

According to Pro Football Talk, the Vikings have reached out to Penn State head coach Bill O’Brien, who served as an assistant with the Patriots from 2007 to 2011. He not only has some familiarity with Vikings rookie linebackers Michael Mauti and Gerald Hodges, but boasts a successful pedigree of two tight end sets and offensive innovation.

O’Brien seems like a logical candidate for the Vikings to check out, but the odds are long that he is the next head coach of the team. His Penn State contract reportedly requires an NFL team to buy him out to the tune of $7.73 million. There are also some unsubstantiated rumors floating around that O’Brien actually has no intent to once again join the NFL coaching ranks and wants to stay put.

The Vikings aren’t the only team to contact O’Brien. The Houston Texans, who currently have a head coaching vacancy, have also reached out to the college coach.

If things get more serious regarding O’Brien we will more extensively explore who he is as a coach and a man. In the meantime, this story is more about confirming that the Vikings appear poised to usher in a new era of Minnesota football by doing away with their current staff.

Adam Warwas

Adam Warwas (Founder) has been writing about the Vikings for a total of eight years. Five of those years have been here at Vikings Territory where he continues to surround himself with enough talented individuals that people keep coming back. As proud as he is of what Vikings Territory has become, his real treasures are in his home... a beautiful wife and three amazing children (and a dog named Percy).

Tags: bill o'brien leslie frazier michael mauti

View Comments

CalVkg says:

Dec 15, 2013 at 11:25 am

not that we didn't see a change at HC coming, but if this guy's head isn't into coaching in the nfl, forget him
- Adam Warwas says:
  
  Dec 15, 2013 at 11:26 am
  
  Keep in mind that almost every college coach in history that joined the NFL denied having interest in joining the NFL... leverage.
  - CalVkg says:
    
    Dec 15, 2013 at 11:31 am
    
    true
CSlinde says:

Dec 15, 2013 at 2:11 pm

The front office with another fail. This stuff should be kept super secret. I think Freeman was a management decision and has caused a rift with Frazier. What coach would want to come here and be constantly undermined?
B. Grant says:

Dec 16, 2013 at 7:24 am

Constantly undermined? On the basis of one rumored situation?
CSlinde says:

Dec 16, 2013 at 11:36 am

No. In MN it always seems like the coach doesn't have control, there's always something their fighting against but we never know what it is. This season has been even worse with cliches and pre-planned statements.