Ahead of a news conference to introduce Kevin O'Connell as their next head coach on Thursday afternoon, the Vikings announced they've hired nine assistant coaches for O'Connell's staff.
The team officially named Ed Donatell its defensive coordinator, adding the former Broncos defensive coordinator to the staff and hiring Mike Pettine — the head coach in Cleveland when O'Connell got his first NFL job and the Packers' defensive coordinator from 2018-20 — as assistant head coach. The Vikings had been looking for an experienced assistant to serve in an advisory role on each side of the ball for the 36-year-old O'Connell, a first-time head coach; Pettine figures to fill the role on defense as he works alongside Donatell.