Another Domino in Vikings DC Search
Two weeks ago, the Minnesota Vikings parted ways with 2022 defensive coordinator Ed Donatell, who led the franchise to the league’s 27th-ranked defense via DVOA, 30th in points allowed, and 31st in yards allowed.
The Vikings have interviewed Sean Desai (Seattle Seahawks), Brian Flores (Pittsburgh Steelers), Ryan Nielsen (New Orleans Saints), and Mike Pettine (Vikings) as prospective 2023 defensive coordinators since. Nielsen took a job as the Atlanta Falcons defensive bossman, so the search is down to three men — for now.
Another Domino in Vikings DC Search
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Fast forward to Wednesday, and ESPN’s Kevin Seifert provided context on Minnesota’s DC process, “The reason the Vikings’ search for a defensive coordinator has been quiet lately is that, per sources, they’re waiting to see if they can get an interview with the Denver Broncos’ Ejiro Evero. At the moment, he’s a candidate for the head coach job in Indianapolis and Arizona.”
So, the Vikings are — or were — waiting on the fate of Evero, who has ties to Minnesota’s general manager and head coach. Everything made sense. On Thursday, though, the Evero enthusiasm was dialed back after prospective Broncos defensive coordinator took the Miami Dolphins top defensive job.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweeted, “After speaking with multiple teams about their defensive coordinator position, Vic Fangio has decided to join the Dolphins as their defensive coordinator and officially will accept the position on the Miami staff after the Super Bowl.”
Fangio taking the Dolphins gig substantially enhances the chances of Evero returning to Denver as defensive coordinator. He’s an elite young mind, and Sean Payton, the new skipper in Denver, would be silly to let Evero walk.
Broncos beat writer Zac Stevens explained Evero’s situation in Denver on Twitter, “To be clear, Ejiro Evero is under contract with the Broncos to be their defensive coordinator. If he gets a head coaching job, the Broncos can’t block that and he will be gone. But if he doesn’t get a HC job, Sean Payton will get to decide whether he stays or leaves.”
Evero has ties to Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Kevin O’Connell. Evero worked as a quality control coach, offensive assistant, and defensive assistant from 2011 to 2015 with the San Francisco 49ers, overlapping time with Adofo-Mensah, who worked for the 49ers from 2013 to 2019.
Then, Evero also worked on Sean McVay’s staff with the Los Angeles Rams, the same place O’Connell offensively coordinated before joining the Vikings as head coach one year ago. Evero was a safeties coach and secondary coach from 2017 to 2021, while O’Connell was McVay’s top offensive lieutenant in 2020 and 2021.
The Vikings attention evidently perked up when Evero possibly became available to run the purple defense, hence the “delay” in not hiring Flores, Desai, or Pettine.
Evero last worked as the Denver Broncos defensive coordinator and is respected around the NFL. And when Nathaniel Hackett flunked out of Denver, Evero even took over as interim head coach and has since interviewed for head coaching jobs with the Arizona Cardinals, Carolina Panthers, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts — and Broncos.
If Evero lands the Colts or Cardinals job, well that’s a done deal, and the Vikings will focus on Flores, Desai, or Pettine.
But if he does not land a head coach job, all of the rest of this — for the Vikings defensive coordinator purposes — is up to Sean Payton. And for Payton to say “not gonna happen” to Vikings fans would be very on-brand for Mr. Payton.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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