What to know about the Vikings HC Search [Edit: Today's Harbaugh Thread]
Maybe this is overdoing it, but we've heard a ton about the Raiders the last couple weeks and not much about Minnesota until very recently. As a big Vikes fan who's worlds only collide with the occasional Ben Gedeon 4th round selection or Hutch Hall of Fame selection, I'm Big Emotion right now. Here are some tidbits to catch us all up:
- Per Tom Pelissero today, Rams OC O'Connell, 9ers DC Ryans, and Harbaugh are the 3 finalists for the job
- Before Kwesi was hired as GM, ownership set out what they wanted for the franchise and interviewed HC candidates of their own. They do not want a rebuild, see a window in the North to compete ASAP, and feel a communicator on both sides of the ball can get that done
- O'Connell and Ryans both got the call from ownership pre-Kewsi, have worked with him in the past, and now are scheduled for 2nd round interviews after today's NFC Championship. We can safely say both have buy-in from ownership + new GM
- Harbaugh is a pure Kwesi interview, no one from the org reached out to him before he was hired
- Beat writers came out and said Ryans was the favorite to ownership after his dismantling of GB in the playoffs, which plays no small role here (sorry Bears and Lions fans, the only threat perceived to MIN is GB)
From a fan base perspective many are very excited about the possibility of JH on message boards, talk radio, etc. He also has a tree of coaches still in the NFL (hello Vic Fangio) that could fill a staff together pretty quickly and arguably better than either other option.
Reading the tea leaves, Ryans ticks every box and makes less waves than Harbaugh, which certainly the Wilfs will prefer and I imagine a very young inexperienced GM will too. What's worth paying attention to is if the 9ers beat the Rams - do the Vikings want to wait for Ryans while staffs settle in to place? Do they prefer Harbaugh to O'Connell - which I feel they might given their strong desire for a leader vs. offensive or defensive specialist? The math COULD become Harbaugh now with open season to hire a staff > Ryans in 3 weeks with a lot of position/OC/DC settled around the league. That has happened plenty of times before: See Bieniemy, Eric.
I'll hang up and listen.
January 30th, 2022 at 6:58 PM ^
It’s remarkable how stupid this take it is. First of all, elite universities remain elite by NOT lowering academic standards.
Second, elite universities are universities, not football factories. Football matters little in the scheme of things to great universities. And that’s appropriate.
Third, anyone who throws around the word “socialist” the way you do doesn’t understand socialism. You’re arguing that a school that’s upholding standards and not lowering it to cast a wider net is socialist. That’s the opposite of socialism.
Finally, if you’re so upset by “socialism,” why are you a fan of a school that has always and always will be among the most politically progressive schools in the nation? It’s literally the school’s identity and what makes it special. If you want a right-wing school, go root for Notre Dame. Your priorities and logic are embarrassing.
January 30th, 2022 at 7:15 PM ^
I wouldn’t call socialism “progressive”. I also wouldn’t say that is what makes Michigan “special”. Michigan was “special” long before progressive ideology became widespread.
January 30th, 2022 at 7:03 PM ^
I can't really think of a good reason for Jim to stay. Other than that he loves Michigan, but that only goes so far.
They came close to a messy divorce with fans and the AD last off-season....if Jim is locked in for 10 more years or whatever, you know that situation will repeat after the first meh season.
He'll get 2-3 seasons minimum in the NFL, and he won't feel like he is robbing Michigan if/when he's fired with $50M left on the contract.
January 30th, 2022 at 7:44 PM ^
I wonder if the Rams could be an option for Harbaugh if they lose tonight. McVeigh has lost 6 straight to San Francisco. This would be 7 straight. I can only imagine that Harbaugh would savor the opportunity to beat the 49ers after his feud with the organization.
January 30th, 2022 at 7:55 PM ^
If that happens - and that’s a hugeeeeee ‘if’, I’d gladly take McVay at Michigan over any coach in the country not named Saban.
McVay is a hell of a coach and is already growing a nice coaching tree of his own in the NFL.
January 30th, 2022 at 8:15 PM ^
I would take him too, but the chances of him leaving the NFL are slim to none, even if he has to sit out a year to wait for an opening.
January 30th, 2022 at 8:11 PM ^
It’s almost looking certain he leaves. It’s going to be really interesting to see what happens…we are what like 4-5 weeks away from the start of spring practice?
it’s hard to imagine that it won’t be an internal hire if he goes.
January 30th, 2022 at 8:35 PM ^
When Kelly left ND, I couldn’t imagine what their fans felt knowing their massive brand was now a stepping stone job. Would be a huge gut punch to have the same feeling about UM. Would say a lot about where the university stands on athletics unfortunately
January 30th, 2022 at 8:45 PM ^
Not true - having a coach leave for NFL is really in a different league than having the coach leave for another school.
January 30th, 2022 at 9:10 PM ^
Yup, gotta side with you on that. The NFL is the cream of the crop, and arguments can be made that the lowest NFL job (Jags, for example) is better than the Alabama job, the OSU job, Georgia, ND, Michigan, etc. Why? Because it’s the pros. You are coaching the best the game has to offer, and there are some things the NFL can offer that no college ever will. You’re not having to recruit anymore, deal with alums, boosters, making sure kids stay on top of their grades, etc. You’re just there to coach, and you get an actual offseason.
If Harbaugh leaves, I won’t pretend it won’t suck. But going from college to the NFL is not a lateral move like going from ND to LSU is.
January 30th, 2022 at 8:46 PM ^
If Harbaugh does not get the Vikings job, there will be a few other offers. The question is, will Harbaugh take a rebuilding team or head back to Michigan. The longer this plays out it will begin to harm recruiting and the other coaches will always say, Harbaugh is looking to get into the NFL sooner than later.
January 30th, 2022 at 10:15 PM ^
Did you mean to say "a few other offers"? Saints and Texans haven't been linked to him unless I'm mistaken. That only leaves 2 other openings.
January 30th, 2022 at 9:14 PM ^
Team meeting tomorrow morning. Ugh.
January 30th, 2022 at 9:30 PM ^
He's staying with the team. Word is the Vikings will announce that the 49ers OC will be their next coach.
January 30th, 2022 at 9:37 PM ^
Why hold a meeting to say you are staying?
January 30th, 2022 at 10:28 PM ^
Source?
There is an active rumor with some reliable people providing affirmation that Miami would sign JH if the Vikings were to offer. A team meeting tomorrow could be telling the team he is done with NFL pursuits, or that he is done. Personally, I'm ready to move on in whatever direction. Spring ball isn't far off, so just get something locked in and move forward.
January 30th, 2022 at 9:44 PM ^
Who is reporting this?
January 30th, 2022 at 9:14 PM ^
Team meeting tomorrow morning. Ugh.
January 30th, 2022 at 9:45 PM ^
Who is reporting this?
January 30th, 2022 at 9:49 PM ^
A message board poster, apparently.
January 30th, 2022 at 9:26 PM ^
For a guy that has vehemently denied NFL rumors in the past, I’m curious to know what has changed in his mind. Has all the momentum in the world to make his life easier here and is now choosing to leave.
Even if he did stay, I’m not sure an extension would ever make that negative recruiting pitch change after this year.