JERSEY CITY, N.J. – Jack Del Rio came to the Vikings, his fourth NFL team, as a Plan B free agent in 1992, meaning his previous employer, the Dallas Cowboys, had become the third team that didn't value his presence.
He became a Pro Bowl middle linebacker in Minnesota and established contacts that would help him launch the coaching career that led him to New Jersey this week.
Darrell Bevell came to the Vikings, his fifth career stop, as an offensive coordinator in 2006, when Brad Childress became Minnesota's head coach and called on his longtime friend.
He guided one of the best and most diverse offenses in franchise history in 2009, and this week will run the Seahawks offense against Del Rio's Broncos defense in Super Bowl BRRR on Sunday.
Both established their bona fides in Minnesota. Del Rio even left the hospital waiting room in 1994 to play against the Saints at the Metrodome, then made it back to the hospital before his son was born. He received the game ball that day and wrote on it to Luke, "Thanks for waiting for Dad.''
Both were considered candidates for the Vikings' coaching job this winter, and might have been hampered by their teams' progression through the playoffs. The Vikings settled on Mike Zimmer, whose Bengals were eliminated in the first round and who was thus more available for lengthy interviews and immediate employment.
Sunday, Bevell and Del Rio will conduct the less celebrated but equally important duel between high-profile coordinators.
Denver's Adam Gase and Seattle's Dan Quinn run, respectively, the top-ranked offense and defense in the NFL. The Seahawks offense ranked 17th in yards per game; the Broncos ranked 19th in yards allowed.
