The Minnesota Vikings are deep within preparations for Sunday’s NFC Wild Card matchup with the New Orleans Saints, but a lot of the conversation has been dominated about what the Vikings could look like once the game is over.
One day after Vikings ownership backed head coach Mike Zimmer and general manager Rick Spielman, it appears that the Kevin Stefanski head coaching tour will continue as he has reportedly agreed to interview for the Carolina Panthers head coaching position according to ESPN’s Dan Graziano.
Per sources, Vikings offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski is scheduled to interview with the Carolina Panthers for their head coach job next week, likely Thursday. Timing could depend on whether Vikings win Sunday. If they do, they have a short week, leave for SF on Friday.
— Dan Graziano (@DanGrazianoESPN) January 4, 2020
Stefanski is the second known candidate to interview for the Panthers this offseason after they fired Ron Rivera last month. The Panthers have already met with former Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy twice in their search, but he has also been in the running for several other positions including the Dallas Cowboys, who McCarthy will meet with later this week.
That could put Stefanski as a solid “Plan B” for the Panthers, who ranked 19th in total offense last season. While the Vikings didn’t fare much better ranking 16th, Stefanski added an element of efficiency to the Vikings offense in 2019, coaxing a career year out of Kirk Cousins and riding the midseason storm without Adam Thielen and Dalvin Cook.
Even if Stefanski does not get the nod in Carolina, there’s a good chance this will not be his last interview depending on how far the Vikings go in the playoffs. The 38-year old was a finalist to become head coach for the Browns last season before he lost out to Freddie Kitchens and Cleveland has requested to interview Stefanski again after firing Kitchens after one season.
