Following a woeful season by the Vikings defense, Minnesota’s brass has decided to part ways with Donatell
Minneapolis, MN– It was a short lived stint in the Twin Cities for Donatell, whom the Vikings let go after just one season at defensive coordinator.
This comes days after the Vikings upset loss to the New York Giants where a 12-4 season seemed to have fallen apart despite deep concerns about the defense being built on a house of cards. Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell announced today that Donatell has been relieved of his duties helming the defense and will be yet another name to be thrust into the head coaching carousel.
“Today I informed Ed Donatell we will be going in a different direction at defensive coordinator in 2023. While this was a difficult decision because of the tremendous respect I have for Ed as a person and a coach, I believe it is the right move for the future of our football team,” O’Connell said in the statement, released through the team. “I want to thank Ed for his commitment to the Vikings this past season, for the positive impact he had on our players and coaches and for his role in helping me as a first-year head coach lay this foundation. We all wish Ed and his wife, Shari, only the best in the future.
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Donatell’s expulsion from the team is anything but a surprise. The Vikings faithful has been calling for his resignation or firing from the team since a brutal Week 11 loss to the Dallas Cowboys where the defense gave up 40 points. The frustrations were highlighted even more after the Vikings 34-27 loss to the Giants in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs, an exit Vikings fans have only grown accustomed to.
Ed Donatell didn’t exactly run the second iteration of the Purple People Eaters during a misleading 12-4 year. The Vikings defense has been shaky to say the least ranking 28th in points allowed and 31st in yards. The Vikes finished the year as the 31st ranked defense, a sobering statistic for a team that won the NFC North handedly.
While their offense may have let them survive, it was obvious the nicks would eventually catch up to Donatell when faced with a good offense, and they did in Minneapolis on Wild Card Weekend. Donatell has an impressive resume, serving as the DC for the Green Bay Packers, Atlanta Falcons, and Denver Broncos before joining O’Connell’s debut staff.
