With the official hiring of a new head coach looming for the Minnesota Vikings, it appears as though the Vikings will experience a complete 180 turn from Mike Zimmer to Kevin O’Connell. The Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator offers a young, analytical approach to the game that many Minnesota fans wanted.
In addition to providing a new perspective, it signaled what looked like the end to the nepotism within the Vikings’ coaching ranks. It’s been the butt of many jokes. But when both the offensive and defensive coordinator of a team are the son of an NFL coach, it merits some scrutiny about whether they are legit or just riding the family name.
Whether this was fair to Klint Kubiak or Adam Zimmer can be debated. While many will be happy to see them replaced, the trend won’t end there.
Per Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press, Wes Phillips is a name to watch as Minnesota’s next offensive coordinator. Wes is the son of long-time NFL coach Wade Phillips, which immediately forced the Minnesota faithful to sound the Groundhog Day alarm.
While connecting Phillips to the likes of Kubiak and Zimmer is an easy trap to fall into, it’s also somewhat ignorant. Phillips may be the slam-dunk hire to join O’Connell and help get the most out of Minnesota’s talent on offense.
First and foremost, Wes Phillips is not a mere copy of his father. Wade is a defensive coach, while Wes has come up on the offensive side of the ball. Instead of inheriting a particular coaching style and scheme, he’s been able to come up through the league and take pieces from each of his destinations.
The biggest complaint people had about Klint Kubiak, that he was too similar to his dad, doesn’t apply here. Wes Phillips isn’t somebody who has ridden his father’s coattails. They’ve only crossed over on the same franchise for roughly half of Wes’ career.
Wes Phillips has earned every opportunity he has been given and offers an essential sense of familiarity within the franchise. He’s worked as the tight ends coach and passing-game coordinator over the last three seasons. He’s worked with Sean McVay and O’Connell to build a top-10 offense this season.
O’Connell’s network for hiring coaches isn’t massive as a young coach. Bringing in Wes Phillips would be one of his stronger connections. However, it’s not just O’Connell who would benefit. The biggest benefactor would be Kirk Cousins, who’d receive another vote of confidence in the form of a reunion.
Wes Phillips worked with Cousins for four seasons in Washington when he was the tight ends coach. When McVay left DC to take the Rams head coaching job, Cousins voiced support for Phillips and his coaches in Washington.
“Those were the guys in the meeting rooms and know what I was a quarterback and what other quarterbacks need, what we like, what has worked,” Cousins said on ESPN Radio 980 in 2017.
Hiring Wes Phillips would make it almost impossible for Minnesota to extend Cousins. But there is something to be said about what the once-and-maybe-future QB might be able to achieve with an O’Connell-Phillips tandem. After all, Cousins put up solid numbers under Zimmer, who was always touch-and-go with him. Imagine what he might do under a coaching staff with experience coaching him and supports him.
The Vikings must immediately decide whether they are in or out on Cousins. It doesn’t seem like there’s any middle ground, and Minnesota must decide before the season so they can lessen his $45 million cap hit in 2022.
Funny enough, the same reason that some may love the idea of hiring Wes Phillips will give some fans nightmares. Instead of moving on from Cousins, the Vikings could be preparing for him to finish out his career in Minnesota.
Cousins would prefer not to leave, and the Vikings could do a whole lot worse than an O’Connell-Phillips-Cousins base to work off of. Look around the league and try to find one successful team where the quarterback and head coach are not on the same page.
I’ll save you the time: It doesn’t exist. It has been one of the biggest problems this franchise has faced. Hiring Phillips would provide a level of cohesion amongst offensive leaders that Minnesota hasn’t seen this century.
Before you turn your nose up at another nepotism hire, look at the facts. Phillips has a rapport with O’Connell and Cousins. And he has experience working with the coach who is producing some of the most sought-after disciples on the market.
Minnesota’s moves have indicated that they’re willing to stick with Cousins thus far. It’s time to push all their chips onto the middle of the table. Hire Phillips, and you’ve got a fantastic foundation to build off of.
