Report: Dirk Koetter candidate for Vikings’ offensive coordinator job

UPDATE: According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Falcons have, in fact, offered Koetter their offensive coordinator job.

Original story follows.

We are less than twenty-four hours away from the expiration of Kevin Stefanski’s contract, and while we’re still not sure whether or not he’ll stick with the Minnesota Vikings as their offensive coordinator, another name has entered the mix as a potential candidate for the purple next season.

Dirk Koetter, who was fired as the head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after the regular season ended, is reportedly a candidate for the job.

Koetter, who has also interviewed for the offensive coordinator position with the Atlanta Falcons, has been in the NFL for a while. He was the offensive coordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars from 2007 to 2011, and the Falcons’ offensive coordinator from 2012 to 2014. He was then hired as the Buccaneers’ head coach, and compiled a 23-25 record there over his three seasons on the Tampa sideline.

According to Ben Goessling of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, if Mike Zimmer is committed to running the football, it’s no surprise that he’s interested in Koetter. His offenses in Jacksonville were in the top five in rushing attempts in the NFL three times during his five years as their offensive coordinator, and the Buccaneers were in the top ten in rushing attempts in Koetter’s first two seasons as their head coach.

Obviously, this all hinges on Stefanski’s status and whether or not he and the team can come to a mutual agreement for him to return to the Minnesota sideline. Over the weekend, we cited a report that said that the decision not to come back to Minnesota would be Stefanski’s, but nothing has been finalized at this point. We’re definitely keeping an eye on this situation, and if and when anything definitive comes down, we will bring it to you right here.