Vikings search for a new offensive coordinator begins close to home

As the Vikings begin their search for a new offensive coordinator, they have interviews set up with a pair of candidates who know each other well.

According to a league source, Vikings quarterbacks coach Kevin Stefanski will interview for the job at coach Mike Zimmer's ranch in northern Kentucky this weekend. CBS Sports also reported the team will talk with former Seahawks offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell, who was the Vikings' offensive coordinator from 2006 to '10 under Brad Childress.

Stefanski and Bevell were on the same coaching staffs under Childress, and Stefanski worked under Bevell as the Vikings' assistant QB coach in 2009 and 2010. As Bevell moved to Seattle following Childress' firing in 2010, Stefanski stayed on coach Leslie Frazier's staff, and became the tight ends coach when Mike Zimmer was hired in 2014. He became the team's running backs coach in 2016 after Kirby Wilson left for a job as the Browns' running game coordinator, and moved to quarterbacks coach this season when the Vikings reworked their offensive staff. Bevell, who had been the Seahawks' offensive coordinator from 2011 to '17, was fired by the team after the season.

Zimmer said earlier this week he planned to talk with several candidates, adding, "I'm going to take my time and make sure we get the right thing." Stefanski never has called plays or been an offensive coordinator, but Zimmer spoke highly of the 35-year-old this week.

"Kevin is a very smart guy. I need to sit down and talk to him," Zimmer said. "I need to sit down and talk to some other people and figure out what the best thing is for us moving forward."