After winning Super LVI, the Los Angeles Rams and head coach Sean McVay must immediately turn around and look to reshape the coaching staff.
Every season, McVay sees a top assistant leave for a head coaching position and this year is no different as Kevin O’Connell left the franchise to become the Minnesota Vikings’ new head coach. O’Connell figures to replicate the offensive success he helped oversee in Los Angeles and has a solid core to work with in Kirk Cousins, Justin Jefferson and Dalvin Cook.
As is customary, a person leaving for a head coaching gig typically takes assistants from their former team to fill their new staff and in this case, it appears O’Connell will be bringing passing game coordinator and tight ends coach Wes Phillips to become his new offensive coordinator, via Ian Rapoport of NFL Network:
Sources: The #Vikings are hiring #Rams passing game coordinator Wes Phillips as their new OC. After an extensive search, new coach Kevin O’Connell gets his top target in Minnesota.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 21, 2022
The plan is for Wes Phillips to do what O’Connell did in LA for Sean McVay: Serve as a key voice in planning and developing the offense. An up-and-coming coach, Phillips has a huge opportunity. https://t.co/GMGYPCE6V9
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 21, 2022
Phillips has nearly 15 years of experience along NFL sidelines but now gets a great opportunity with O’Connell in Minnesota to prop up an offense that often times went through lulls. As Rapoport notes, while he may not end up calling plays, he will still get a voice in building out the offense which should feature similar concepts that McVay utilizes.
For the Rams, Phillips’ departure means they have another spot to fill in the offseason. Liam Coen has been linked to the vacant offensive coordinator position, and it will be interesting to see who they target to replace Phillips.
