It’s been a busy Thursday for the Minnesota Vikings ahead of their anticipated introductory press conference for head coach Kevin O’Connell. Multiple assistant coaches are being confirmed to O’Connell’s coaching staff, including Mike Pettine as the new assistant head coach.
The news was confirmed by the team on social media.
After spending three seasons as the defensive coordinator for the Green Bay Packers, Pettine served as a senior defensive assistant for the Chicago Bears in 2021. He’ll come to the Vikings with previous head coaching experience after a two-year stint with the Cleveland Browns.
That kind of experience will be an invaluable source of information for a first-time NFL head coach like O’Connell to lean on early in his tenure.
It strikes an even greater balance considering Pettine can approach things from more of a defensive perspective, while O’Connell is coming in with more of an offensive mindset.
Along with the hiring of Pettine, the Vikings also confirmed Ed Donatell as the team’s new defensive coordinator. The longtime coach spent the last three seasons serving as the defensive coordinator for the widely underrated Denver Broncos defense.
He’ll have his hands full in Minnesota attempting to turn around one of the worst defensive units in the league last season.
