Purple Rumor Mill: Buying and selling Kevin O’Connell, Josh McCown, Jets GM Search

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VikingsTerritory’s Purple Rumor Mill is a two-day chronicle every week. All of the week’s Vikings rumors are lassoed and plopped in two spots — articles on Saturday and Sunday — for assessment. At present is the January eleventh version.

Purple Rumor Mill: Buying and selling Kevin O’Connell, Josh McCown, Jets GM Search

Bear in mind — rumors are rumors. What you learn on weekends in these items is what the world is speaking about pertaining to the purple group, not essentially gadgets that may come to fruition.

Right here’s the primary batch of the week. All previous rumors could be learn right here.

Rumor: NFL groups will search Kevin O’Connell by way of commerce.

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A few hours earlier than Minnesota’s Week 18 showdown in Detroit, FOX Sports activities’ Jay Glazer mentioned on FOX Sunday that a number of groups have been fascinated with buying and selling for O’Connell, even when the younger skipper isn’t on the market. Coach trades are uncommon within the NFL, though the Denver Broncos acquired Sean Payton from the New Orleans Saints in 2023 for a substantial haul, together with a 1st-Spherical draft choose.

“There’s one candidate out there that’s going to surprise you all, that no one knows is on lists, and he is. There are multiple teams that actually are considering trying to trade for Kevin O’Connell,” Glazer mentioned.

Glazer added, “Maybe the Vikings don’t let it happen. But also Kevin O’Connell kind of has the card saying, ‘Hey, listen, I’m not going to resign there so you might as well get something for me’. Now, I don’t know because, obviously, I don’t think Kevin knows about this right now. But there are multiple teams who have them on that board to say, ‘Let’s at least try and see if we can trade.”

Groups evidently need a piece of the Vikings’ skipper, even when he isn’t obtainable for commerce.

Rumor: Vikings QB coach Josh McCown might be promoted, taking a job with the New York Jets.

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The New York Jets requested permission to interview Minnesota’s defensive coordinator, Brian Flores — amid a really broad seek for a brand new head coach — however that franchise additionally desires a chunk of Vikings quarterbacks coach Josh McCown.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweeted Monday, “Jets have requested head coaching interviews with Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores and QB coach Josh McCown, per sources.”

McCown is contemporary off the steam of serving to quarterback Sam Darnold completely reclaim his profession in Minnesota, and New York evidently desires to snoop round his curiosity in changing into a head coach — or maybe make him the offensive coordinator below the eventual rent. Keep tuned.

Followers ought to count on McCown to go away sooner moderately than later.

Rumor: The Jets, too, are fascinated with Vikings govt Ryan Grigson for his or her open common supervisor job.

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports activities

The Jets will chat with Ryan Grigson, Minnesota’s senior vice chairman of participant personnel, presumably a couple of common supervisor gig.

The Athletic’s Dianna Russini tweeted Monday, “The New York Jets have requested to speak to Vikings senior VP of player personnel Ryan Grigson, per source.”

Grigson arrived within the Twin Cities on the daybreak of the Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Kevin O’Connell period (2022) and has served as senior vice chairman of participant personnel since. Some Vikings followers have “blamed” Grigson, partially, for a few of the poor draft decisions since 2022, however little proof corroborates the idea.

Former Vikings common supervisor Rick Spielman is helping New York’s common supervisor search as a advisor.

Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the College of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his every day YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The present options company, evaluation, and opinion on all issues associated to the purple group, with 4-7 episodes per week. His MIN obsession dates again to 1996. Listed responsible pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doorways (the band). He follows the NBA as carefully because the NFL. 

All statistics offered by Professional Soccer Reference / Stathead; all contractual info offered by OverTheCap.com.