Vikings make offensive coordinator hire official

*Eden Prairie, MN (February 9, 2018) –The Minnesota Vikings have named John DeFilippo offensive coordinator.

DeFilippo (pronounced dee-fah-LIP-oh) joins the Minnesota Vikings as the team’s offensive coordinator in 2018 after serving as the Eagles quarterbacks coach during their Super Bowl-winning 2017 season. DeFilippo spent two seasons (2016-17) as the Eagles quarterbacks coach after spending the previous season as the offensive coordinator of the Cleveland Browns.

“We are very excited to add John to our staff. We took our time with the search and made sure we left no stone unturned to get the right fit. He has a track record of success and has proven to be a great teacher. We feel John will have good chemistry with our team and we are all eager to get to work.” – Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer

During the 2017 season, DeFilippo led his group of quarterbacks through unique circumstances, helping second-year quarterback Carson Wentz reach his superstar potential and guiding back up Nick Foles to one of the most prolific postseasons in NFL history. Despite only playing in 13 games before suffering a season-ending ACL injury, Wentz finished the season with 33 touchdowns, the most in franchise history, and a 101.9 passer rating, the third-highest in franchise history. DeFilippo then helped direct Foles to 971 passing yards (13th most all-time in a single NFL postseason), six touchdowns, only one interception and a 115.7 passer rating in three playoff games. Foles earned Super Bowl LII MVP honors vs. New England at U.S. Bank Stadium after throwing for 373 yards, three touchdowns, one interception and a 106.1 passer rating, as well as catching one pass for one yard and one touchdown.

In his first season with the Eagles, DeFilippo tutored a rookie Wentz, the No. 2-overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft who was named the team’s starting quarterback just eight days prior to the regular-season opener. DeFilippo helped Wentz set a team and all-time NFL rookie record with 379 completions.

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Vikings New Offensive Coordinator John DeFilippo

Under DeFilippo’s direction, Wentz posted franchise rookie records in pass attempts, passing yards, passing touchdowns and completion percentage. Wentz’s 3,782 passing yards marked the fourth-highest total in single-season team history and NFL rookie history.

Prior to his stint in Philadelphia, DeFilippo held his first post as an NFL offensive coordinator with the Cleveland Browns in 2015 where he directed the offensive to 4,000-plus gross passing yards and 1,500-plus rushing yards in the same season for the first time since 1986.

DeFilippo has held full-time posts for the New York Giants, New York Jets and the Oakland Raiders in addition to the Eagles and Browns. In his 12 seasons of coaching in the NFL, DeFilippo has made four playoff appearances – New York Giants (2005, 06), New York Jets (2009) and Philadelphia Eagles (2017).

Born in Youngstown, Ohio, DeFilippo was a four-year letterwinner at quarterback at James Madison, where he helped lead the Dukes to a conference championship as a senior in 1999. While in college, he also served as a summer coaching intern with the Carolina Panthers (1997) and Indianapolis Colts (1998). DeFilippo married his wife, Kari, in July 2014.

*Press Release

Dan Leberfeld
Dan Leberfeldhttps://www.jetsconfidential.com
Publisher of Jets Confidential Magazine. Call 1-800-932-4557 (M-F, 12-4) to subscribe. Co-host of Press Coverage every Saturday on SiriusXM NFL Radio from 11-2.

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