Just when it looked like the search for Kevin O’Connell and the Minnesota Vikings’ defensive coordinator was starting to see some positive developments, things seemed to take a negative turn this Sunday.
Our friends at Cat Scratch Reader (among others) report that Ejiro Evero will be the new defensive coordinator for the Carolina Panthers under new head coach Frank Reich. Evero, who was fired Saturday by notorious jerk Sean Payton, signed with the Panthers before the Vikings even had a chance to interview him.
It should be noted, as several people on social media have done, that Evero had previously interviewed the Panthers once, as he spoke with the team about their position as head coach before hiring Reich. . It may have served to lay the groundwork in Carolina and helped the Panthers land their guy.
With that, the top candidate for the Vikings DC job seems to be current Pittsburgh Steelers assistant Brian Flores.
NEVERTHELESS. . .Flores is now getting a second interview for the Arizona Cardinals head coaching job and will also interview for Evero’s former position with the Denver Broncos. So there’s a good chance he’s not the Vikings guy either, despite their interest.
If the chips were to fall that way, the only other person the Vikings have interviewed at this point would be current defensive assistant Mike Pettine. I think I speak for quite a few of you when I say I sure hope Vikings have a plan B (or plan C or whatever plan we’re working on at this point) if Flores doesn’t work out , because I couldn’t imagine hiring a guy from the team who oversaw last year’s defensive incompetence would go so well.
We will continue to monitor all developments. . .yes, even the most disappointing ones. . .of the Vikings’ search for Ed Donatell’s successor. When we know more, we’ll let you know.
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