Kevin grew up in Carlsbad, California up the coast about 35 miles from San Diego; he attended La Costa Canyon High School in Carlsbad.[4] He lettered in both football and basketball in high school. In football as a junior, he passed for 2000 yards and seven touchdowns. As a senior, he was named the 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 player, Chase Budinger.[5] O'Connell graduated from La Costa Canyon High School in 2003.
Playing career
College
Kevin O'Connell graduated from San Diego State University in December 2007 with a degree in political science.[6][7] At SDSU, where he was a four-year team captain, he started 21 games. That is the sixth-most among SDSU quarterbacks, and he 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.[4]
O'Connell played in both the 2008 Hula Bowl and the 2008 East-West Shrine Game.[6] 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.[8]
O'Connell with the New England Patriots in an away game against the Oakland Raiders, December 2008
The New England Patriots selected O'Connell with their fourth pick (94th overall) in the third round of the 2008 NFL draft.[12] He 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.[13]
New York Jets (first stint)
The Lions traded O'Connell to the New York Jets, for a 7th round 2011 draft pick, on September 6, 2009.[14] He was named a team captain for the September 20 game against the New England Patriots.[15]
On August 31, 2010, New York released O'Connell.[16] Then O'Connell found that he had a torn labrum in his throwing arm, an injury he had received during the preseason.[17] He required surgery. After his release, the New York Jets re-signed him to a two-year deal. He had been on the injured reserve list[18] and he was later released again on July 29, 2011.[19]
Miami Dolphins
On August 5, 2011, O'Connell signed with the Miami Dolphins, but was waived on September 3.[20][21]
New York Jets (second stint)
O'Connell was claimed off waivers by the Jets on September 4, 2011.[22]
San Diego Chargers
O'Connell was signed by the San Diego Chargers on July 29, 2012, to be an emergency back-up during the Chargers' practices with Charlie Whitehurst suffering an injury and Kyle Boller having recently retired.[23] O'Connell was released on August 12, 2012.
After spending the previous two years as a private quarterbacks coach in Carlsbad, California with clients including Johnny Manziel, Logan Thomas, Marcus Mariota, and Bryce Petty, it was announced on February 17, 2015, that O'Connell was hired as the quarterbacks coach of the Cleveland Browns. That began his full-time coaching career and reunited him with Mike Pettine, who was the defensive coordinator for the Jets during O’Connell’s stint as a player there, as well as Manziel, who was a client of O’Connell’s prior to the 2014 NFL Draft.[25]
San Francisco 49ers
O'Connell was hired to the offensive staff of the San Francisco 49ers on February 26, 2016.[26]
Washington Redskins
O'Connell, left, on the sidelines with Alex Smith prior to a game against the Dallas Cowboys, December 2019
On January 20, 2017, O'Connell was hired as the Washington Redskins' quarterbacks coach under head coach Jay Gruden.[27] In 2019 with Bill Callahan as the interim head coach, O'Connell was promoted to offensive coordinator.[28] After the 2019–20 regular season, he was not retained by the incoming new head coach, Ron Rivera.[29]
Los Angeles Rams
On January 16, 2020, O'Connell was hired by the Los Angeles Rams as offensive coordinator.[30] In his second season with the Rams, their offense ranked 2nd best in receiving touchdowns (41), 5th highest in total yards (4,893), 8th best in total touchdowns (63), and the team won Super Bowl LVI (defeating the Cincinnati Bengals, 23–20).[31][32]
Minnesota Vikings
On February 16, 2022, just three days after his Super Bowl LVI victory, O'Connell was hired by the Minnesota Vikings as the 10th head coach in their franchise history.[33][34] The hiring reunited him with quarterback Kirk Cousins, whom O'Connell had coached in 2017 (Cousins' final year with the Washington Redskins). O'Connell won his first game as head coach against the Green Bay Packers in Week 1 of the 2022 season by a score of 23–7.[35]
O'Connell led the Vikings to a 13–4 record on the season, tying Matt LaFleur and Jim Harbaugh for the second-most wins for a rookie head coach in NFL history, which included an 11–0 record in games decided by one score. The Vikings won the NFC North for the first time since 2017, which was good enough for the NFC's third seed, but were defeated by the New York Giants in the Wild Card round by a final score of 31–24.[36]
O'Connell is married to Leah O'Connell. They have four children, two boys and two girls. Leah works in sales. Kevin is second cousins in-law once removed with Aiden (A.J.) Dan.
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