Jim Harbaugh's nine-hour interview for the Minnesota Vikings' head coaching job didn't go according to plan on Wednesday. Although signs pointed toward an NFL comeback, he unexpected left the team's facility without receiving an offer. And, consequently, Harbaugh informed Michigan that he'll be returning to the school for the 2022 season. A surprising turn of events.
With this decision from Harbaugh, Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O'Connell has emerged as the top candidate for the Vikings' position. With the Rams playing in Super Bowl 56, a contract with O'Connell can't be finalized or made official yet. But the 36-year-old will most likely take over a Minnesota offense that ranked 14th in points scored this past season.
"You're bringing in Kevin O'Connell, and he's going to be the guy who's going to save the way Justin Jefferson is going to view this franchise, so he doesn't leave in a few years? He's going to be the one who's going to totally change their offense? I would've trusted Harbaugh over O'Connell," Zach Gelb said during The Zach Gelb Show on Thursday. "If it came down to Harbaugh and O'Connell, I don't understand how you go with O'Connell...
"O'Connell doesn't bring any buzz. And that's not why you make a decision. You don't make a decision to win the battle in the courts of public opinion. But if you bring in Harbaugh, if you're a Vikings fan, you're jumping up and down like a fat kid in a candy store. Not that this guy's Lombardi. But if you told Vikings fans you're going to have three double-digit winning seasons in four years, you'd sign up for that in a second, and take your chances that you can get that Super Bowl. I think [hiring O'Connell] was a mistake."
Harbaugh, who took over Michigan in 2015, led the program to its first Big Ten title and College Football Playoff appearance in 2021. Their luck ran out during the Orange Bowl semifinal, though, as they lost in blowout fashion to Georgia. Prior to joining Michigan, Harbaugh spent four seasons as head coach of the San Francisco 49ers, where he reached three NFC championship games and one Super Bowl (2012).
As for O'Connell, he's served as the Rams' offensive coordinator for the past two seasons, and prior to joining Sean McVay's staff, he worked in the same role for the Washington Commanders (2019). A former third-round pick in the 2008 draft, O'Connell's offense ranked eighth in the league in average points (27.1) and ninth in average yards (372.1) in 17 games this regular season.
Gelb's complete thoughts on the Viking's hiring process can be accessed in the audio player above.
You can follow The Zach Gelb Show on Twitter @ZachGelb and Tom Hanslin @TomHanslin.