Stefanski Flying to Browns, Koetter Offered by Falcons, Mularkey Out? WTF is Going on w/Vikings OC Job?

By Eric Strack |

Updated: Sep 3, 2023

Well, it’s been over a week since the Vikings’ season ended in front of a stunned US Bank Stadium crowd and yet we aren’t much closer to knowing who our 2019 offensive coordinator will be.

There have been three candidates who have emerged. One of them is Kevin Stefanski, who took over for fired John DeFilippo to OC the last 3 games of 2018 for the Vikings. We all know his story. He’s grown up in the organization and now he’s ready to spread his wings.

With Kevin Stefanski’s deal expiring today, sources say the Vikings interim OC is searching through his options now. Wouldn’t rule out a return, but lots of potential landing spots, given how many head coach jobs are to be filled (and OC jobs there are to be filled after that).

— Ben Goessling (@GoesslingStrib) January 8, 2019

Then, there are the two outsider candidates.

Dirk Koetter is one of the two outsiders being considered. But he has reportedly been offered the offensive coordinator job with the Atlanta Falcons over the last 24 hours. There are no reports yet though, of whether or not he’s going to (or has) accepted it.

How can he not?

But, Mike Mularkey is in the mix as well, per multiple reliable sources. Both guys have been head coaches in the league already. Zimmer and Spielman seem to like that, though it hasn’t always played out in a positive manner.

Here’s what has me a little frazzled, though. While Koetter has apparently been offered the same job in what is likely a better situation, the other two candidates have been dismissed, “per sources”, by different legitimate outlets.

First, Kevin Stefanski was reportedly no longer interested in the Vikings job and was looking elsewhere, per Charley Walters of the Pioneer Press.

Paul Allen, who everyone knows does the Vikings play-by-play for 100.3 KFAN Radio, has denounced both Mike Mularkey and earlier in the process, Hue Jackson, while hosting his 92Noon radio show on the same station. PA claims to have “reliable sources” that say neither of those candidates are being considered for the job…

We should also note that PA’s sources have told him Stefanski is definitely still in the running for the OC job in Minnesota too, again in contrast to Walters’ reporting that Stefanski didn’t want the job.

via GIPHY

Somebody has to be wrong, right?

Or is there someone else in the mix that is yet to be reported on by major outlets? WTF is going on? Stefanski is essentially a free agent and is apparently on his way to Cleveland for a second interview as one of two finalists for their HEAD COACHING job… Could that be a real possibility?

Sources said Kevin Stefanski is heading back to Cleveland today for a second interview with the Browns for their head coaching job. It remains to be seen how things will shake out, but he’s still in the running there.

— Ben Goessling (@GoesslingStrib) January 8, 2019

Meanwhile, some are speculating that Stefanski might be on his way to Cleveland where they will try to coherse him into signing on as their new Offensive Coordinator under new Head Coach, Freddie Kitchens, who is the other finalist…

There’s a lot going on.

Stefanski declining to return as offensive playcaller for the organization he has worked for for over a decade, in the state where he & his family call home, to be Kitchens' OC in Cleveland, would speak volumes about where both the Vikings & Browns' franchises appear to be headed

— Nick Olson (@NicholasJOlson) January 8, 2019

It’s certainly possible that the Vikings are waiting to see if Stefanski gets offered and accepts that job in Cleveland. That could be what’s holding everything up. If so, you get back to these two last tweets about his trip to visit the Browns. Is he a serious contender? Could he leave here to accept the same position Spielman is willing to offer him?

At least Hue Jackson seems to be out of the picture, right?

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan