Report: Former Broncos DC Ed Donatell has 'emerged as the favorite' for Vikings' DC job

Donatell's coaching career began in 1979 with two years at Kent State and two years at Washington, all spent as a graduate assistant. Donatell then became the defensive backs coach at Pacific University in 1983 and held that title until 1985, when he moved on to become Idaho's defensive backs coach for the next three seasons.

The 65-year-old then spent the 1989 campaign as the defensive backs coach at Cal State Fullerton, before landing his first NFL position. He was the New York Jets' secondary coach from 1990-94 and then had the same role with the Denver Broncos from 1995-99, earning a pair of Super Bowl rings in the process.

The Akron, Ohio native was the Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator from 2000-03 and then was in the same role with the Atlanta Falcons from 2004-06. Donatell returned to the Jets for one season in 2007 as a special assistant and returned to the Washington Huskies program after 26 years in 2008 as their defensive coordinator.

Donatell's second stint with the Broncos was as their secondary coach lasted from 2009 to 2010. He joined the San Francisco 49ers as their secondary coach from 2011-14, then had the same position with the Chicago Bears from 2015-18, and finally was Denver's defensive coordinator most recently, from 2019-21.