Vikings Rumors: Ed Donatell Favored to Take Over as Defensive Coordinator

Former Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Ed Donatell has "emerged as the favorite" to take the same position with the Minnesota Vikings, per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano.

The 65-year-old would work under Kevin O'Connell, who will be the Vikings' next head coach, according to Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. O'Connell, the Los Angeles Rams' offensive coordinator, cannot be announced for the role until after the Super Bowl.

According to Fowler, the Seattle Seahawks planned to hire Donatell as a defensive assistant before the Vikings opportunity emerged.

The veteran coach helped the Broncos finish 2021 with the No. 3 scoring defense in the NFL and rank eighth in yards allowed.

Donatell spent three years in Denver and has been a defensive coordinator for 10 seasons in the NFL with the Broncos, Atlanta Falcons and Green Bay Packers. He has more than 30 years of experience in the NFL dating back to 1990 as a secondary coach of the New York Jets.

In contrast, the 36-year-old O'Connell has never been a head coach and has only seven years of coaching experience.

It would be similar to how Rams coach Sean McVay approached his first head job. The offensive-minded coach brought in the well-traveled Wade Phillips as defensive coordinator when the Rams hired him at age 30 in 2017. The duo took the Rams to the Super Bowl in their second season together.

Minnesota is looking for a similar turnaround after an 8-9 season under Mike Zimmer.

The defense was an issue in 2021, finishing 24th in points allowed and 30th in yards allowed. It was a steep drop from 2017 when the unit ranked first in both categories.

The defensive coordinator will face pressure to get the defense back on track in 2022.