Ed

Donatell

It means the 65-year-old is one-and-done as Kevin O’Connell’s defensive boss after a campaign in which the Vikings bled passing-game production and weren’t a whole lot better against the run. The Vikes made Daniel Jones and company appear literally unstoppable in the Wild Card Round after the G-Men exceeded 30 points precisely once during the regular season, in Week 17 against Jeff Saturday. Donatell, of course, was limited by the uninspiring crop of defensive talent handed to him, but he didn’t do anywhere close to a good enough job of maximizing it. Expect Sean McVay disciple O’Connell to go far younger for his second hire now that he has his head-coaching wits about him.

Donatell was fired by the Broncos during the regime change from Vic Fangio to Nathaniel Hackett. While Fangio obviously got a lot of the credit, it makes sense that new Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell, familiar with Brandon Staley’s variation of the Fangio defense, would want a Fangio disciple at defensive coordinator. Donatell briefly took a job with the Seahawks this offseason, but a chance to run the show in Minnesota clearly dwarfed a senior defensive role.

Donatell served as the Broncos’ defensive coordinator in 2021. Following Vic Fangio’s firing in Denver, Donatell accepted a position with the Seahawks in a senior defensive role. That position appears to be short-lived, with Donatell now likely to resume a defensive coordinator role with the Vikings. The 65-year-old will provide presumed first-time head coach Kevin O’Connell with a wealth of experience on the defensive side of the ball.

Donatell reportedly won’t fill the team’s defensive-coordinating vacancy, instead taking on a senior defensive role. The 65-year-old has a long history with coach Pete Carroll dating back to their time together at Pacific University (1983) and with the Jets (1990-94) in the early stages of their careers. Seattle still has an opening for play-calling duties on that side of the ball after firing Andre Curtis and DC Ken Norton Jr.

The Seahawks fired Ken Norton from his post as defensive coordinator after a disappointing 2021 campaign. Donatell has had a long career coaching defenses in both the NFL and college, and he returned to the pros in 2019 to join Vic Fangio in Denver. With Fangio gone, the 64-year-old could look to move on from the Broncos.

New Broncos coach Vic Fangio’s top lieutenant in Chicago, Donatell will serve in the same role in Denver. 61-year-old Donatell has had a long and winding coaching career, coordinating multiple defenses both in the pros and college. His last NFL coordinating job was with the Falcons from 2004-06. We would assume Fangio will serve as his own play-caller.

It has been rumored for a while that new Broncos coach Vic Fangio might be bringing Donatell with him to Denver. 61-year-old Donatell coordinated the Packers and Falcons earlier this century. Fangio still figures to serve as his own defensive boss.