Questions Answered: Ejiro Evero, The NFC as Less Daunting, Assigning a Grade

The Plot to the Vikings Defensive Coordinator Search Thickens Again
Dec 23, 2018; Glendale, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Rams safeties coach Ejiro Evero against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports.

The following questions are about current Minnesota Vikings topics, answered by PurplePTSD. Today is the February 1st edition, addressed in a from-the-hip fashion. If you have questions, please email them to [email protected].

Also, please note: These are opinion-based responses. Some answers will be incorrect from time to time. But we’ll try to keep that to a minimum.

Questions Answered: Ejiro Evero, The NFC as Less Daunting, Assigning a Grade

Q: Is Ejiro Evero now considered the frontrunner to end up landing the Vikings defensive coordinator job?

NFC as Less Daunting
Aug 22, 2020; Inglewood California, USA; Los Angeles Rams safety coach Ejiro Evero during a scrimmage at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

A: No, merely because he hasn’t interviewed for the job yet.

ESPN’s Kevin Seifert tweeted Wednesday, “The reason the Vikings’ search for a defensive coordinator has been quiet lately is that, per sources, they’re waiting to see if they can get an interview with the Denver Broncos’ Ejiro Evero. At the moment, he’s a candidate for the head coach job in Indianapolis and Arizona.”

For now, Evero has better options than the Vikings defensive coordinator job. He held that job last year in Denver. He’s ready to climb the ladder — and will do so soon, no matter what happens in 2023.

The Vikings want Evero but may have to “settle” for Brian Flores or Sean Desai. If multiple organizations pass over Evero, then yes, there’s a pathway for him to run Minnesota’s 2023 defense.

Q: Do you consider the NFC now more winnable or less daunting with Tom Brady retired?

Aug 27, 2022; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) runs onto the field before the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports

A: Of course. With Tom Brady, Drew Brees, the good version of Russell Wilson, and possibly Aaron Rodgers out of the conference, the Vikings should reasonably contend for the NFC next year and beyond.

Other good quarterbacks will spring up from the aging-veteran rubble, but at the moment, those future Hall of Famers have exited the conference. And that’s delicious for everyone, especially the Vikings.

Q: Assign the Vikings a grade for the 2022 season. I want to see how objective you are.

Reaction to Vikings Win over Patriots
Nov 24, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell shake hands after the game at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports

A: Ohhhhhh, a challenge.

Well, at the beginning of December or so, we would’ve emphatically assigned an ‘A’ or ‘A-.’ But because Minnesota was embarrassingly bounced from the playoffs at home, we must give a ‘B’ grade.

Nobody expected the Vikings to win 13 games in 2022, and Vegas oddsmakers predicted eight or nine wins. Then, Kevin O’Connell finished 13-4, won the NFC North, and totally shattered everyone’s expectations. Yet, the problem was the punctuation mark. The Giants were not an elite football team and downed the Vikings at their home. It was bad.

Thankfully, O’Connell is taking redemptive steps to fix the defense, firing Ed Donatell four days after the postseason folly. Still, handing out anything better than a ‘B’ for a season involving a home Wildcard loss would be bold.

It’s a B.


Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).

All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.

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