Advertisement

Vikings fire defensive coordinator Ed Donatell

chris tomasson, pioneer press
·2 min read
3

The Vikings on Thursday fired defensive coordinator Ed Donatell, whose unit ranked next to last in 2022 in the NFL in total defense.

Head coach Kevin O’Connell had said in a Wednesday’s press conference that he was still evaluating Donatell. On Thursday, the Vikings released a statement from O’Connell.

“Today I informed Ed Donatell we will be going in a different direction at defensive coordinator in 2023,” O’Connell said in the statement. “While this was a difficult decision because of the tremendous respect I have for Ed as a person and a coach, I believe it is the right move for the future of our football team.

“I want to thank Ed for his commitment to the Vikings this past season, for the positive impact he had on our players and coaches and for his role in helping me as a first-year head coach lay this foundation. We all wish Ed and his wife, Shari, only the best in the future.”

O’Connell said that the search will start “immediately” for a replacement.

The Vikings ranked No. 31 in the NFL in total defense during the regular season. The issues continued in the playoffs, when they gave up 431 total yards in a 31-24 playoff loss to the New York Giants on Sunday.

Donatell, 65, lasted just one season on the job under O’Connell, a first-year head coach. He had just completed his 33rd year as an NFL assistant.

After spending the previous three seasons as Denver’s defensive coordinator, Donatell had changed the Vikings’ defense from a 4-3 to a 3-4 scheme. But the Vikings had issues all season on defense, although they often came up with big plays when needed en route to going 13-4 and winning the NFC North.

.

Related Articles