The Los Angeles Rams are hiring former Washington Redskins offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell in the same role, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
O’Connell will join Rams head coach and fellow former Redskins offensive coordinator Sean McVay.
O’Connell joined the Redskins in 2017 as the quarterbacks coach after McVay accepted to become to the Rams head coach.
O’Connell became the Redskins passing game coordinator in 2018 and ultimately offensive coordinator in 2019. There he was tasked with developing rookie quarterback Dwayne Haskins.
Following the firing of Jay Gruden and the eventual hiring of Ron Rivera as head coach, many Redskins fans hoped O’Connell would be retained given his relationship with Haskins and their trio of rookie wide receivers, Terry McLaurin, Kelvin Harmon and Steven Sims Jr.
However, Rivera opted to sign former Carolina Panthers offensive coordinator Scott Turner.
Now, O’Connell joins a great mentor in McVay. He will get to sculpt an offense around 2016 No. 1 pick, quarterback Jared Goff, stud running back Todd Gurley, the Rams’ trio of receivers Cooper Kupp, Brandin Cooks and Robert Woods and the emerging tight end Tyler Higbee.
O’Connell was rumored to join Josh McDaniels, if McDaniels landed the head coach job with the Cleveland Browns after the Redskins granted him permission to talk to other teams. O’Connell’s decision to join McVay may be telling of the prospects of McDaniels going to the Browns or the Rams proved to be the better opportunity for him.
Nonetheless, O’Connell going to McVay of all people will alert Redskins fans who wanted him to stay in Washington. That then, will create a great deal of comparison between Turner and O’Connell moving forward.
