Vikings finalize hire of champion Rams OC Kevin O'Connell

Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com.

The Minnesota Vikings finalized their hiring of head coach Kevin O'Connell on Wednesday, completing a sharp offseason shift in direction by turning over the team to the 36-year-old offensive coordinator of the Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams.

Three days after the Rams beat Cincinnati for the title, O'Connell formally assumed his branch of the Sean McVay tree. He's now the fourth former assistant under the head coach of the Rams to become an NFL head coach himself.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

O'Connell replaces Mike Zimmer, fired last month after eight seasons and only two playoff-game wins, and will be introduced on Thursday at team headquarters as the 10th head coach in Vikings history. The Rams scheduled their Super Bowl parade on Wednesday.

Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O'Connell, left, talks with quarterback Matthew Stafford during practice for an NFL Super Bowl football game Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022, in Pasadena, Calif. The Rams are scheduled to play the Cincinnati Bengals in the Super Bowl on Sunday.  (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

"One of the most important things as a coach is, ‘Do the players know that you care about them and can you make them a better football player?’" McVay said before the Super Bowl. "Kevin checks both of those boxes. He’s got a great way about himself with people. He’s got phenomenal character. I can’t say enough good things about him and how fortunate I’ve been to have gotten to know him the way that I have over these last couple of years. He’s been vital to our success."

Drafted in 2008 by the New England Patriots to be Tom Brady's backup — Brady was already eight years