Although the Minnesota Vikings haven’t officially hired a head coach, they have started to fill out its coaching staff that will join soon-to-be head coach Kevin O’Connell on the sidelines. When the Vikings announce the hiring of O’Connell, which should occur shortly after the conclusion of the Super Bowl, a defensive coordinator will also join him in Minnesota. Minnesota is reportedly set on hiring Ed Donatell as the defensive play-caller to fill out the assistant coaching staff under O’Connell.
The veteran defensive mind brings an extended amount of experience on the defensive side of the ball to his new role in Minnesota, something that will be a nice balance to the young, offensive mind that O’Connell possesses. With a new play-caller taking over the defense for the purple and gold, let’s look into who Donatell is and what he could bring to Minnesota in 2022.
What Ed Donatell Will Bring as Minnesota Vikings Defensive Coordinator
Background
Donatell arrives in Minnesota to extend a coaching career that began as a graduate assistant at Kent State back in 1979. After a career in college from 1979-1989, the now-65-year-old made a jump to the NFL in 1990 as a defensive backs coach with the New York Jets.
Since arriving in the NFL a little over 30 years ago, Donatell has served in various roles on the defensive side of the ball, holding coaching roles with the Jets, Denver Broncos, Green Bay Packers, Atlanta Falcons, Washington Commanders, San Francisco 49ers and Chicago Bears. Most recently, Donatell served as defensive coordinator for the Broncos from 2019-2021.
Having been a part of two Super Bowl teams — Super Bowl XXXII and Super Bowl XXXIII — Donatell found himself without a job this off-season after Denver parted ways with head coach Vic Fangio and the rest of the Broncos coaching staff. He had reportedly agreed to a job as a senior defensive assistant with the Seattle Seahawks for the 2022 season until being hired as defensive coordinator with the Vikings to lead the defense.
Coaching Style
Ed Donatell will bring somewhat of an old-school mindset and scheme to the Vikings as defensive coordinator, something that might not be a bad thing and could make for an easy transition from Mike Zimmer’s scheme on that side of the ball.
Donatell’s schemes in the past have featured two-safety looks, something that will likely follow him to Minnesota. One of the differences that could take place under Donatell’s leadership is the transition from a 4-3 defense to a 3-4 defense. Under the previous three Vikings head coaches — Zimmer, Leslie Frazier and Brad Childress — Minnesota has had a 4-3 defense, but Donatell has often leaned towards a 3-4 defense which could persuade a change with the Vikings.
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Regardless of the style and scheme that Donatell brings to Minnesota, he and O’Connell will have some decisions to make as to who they want to keep on the defensive side of the ball going into the 2022 season. The Vikings will have some tough decisions to make on defense this off-season due to the salary cap situation and the need of shoring up some holes on the roster. That means Donatell will have to figure out who he wants to work with and who the team could afford to part ways with before the new year.
Donatell will bring a veteran and winning presence to the Vikings with a new regime soon to enter the organization under O’Connell’s leadership. He is someone who has been in the game and the league a long time and is a well-respected assistant coach with a proven track record of success and victories. That should be a nice balance as they work to help Minnesota return to the postseason this season and beyond.
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