49ers DC Robert Saleh reveals that former Vikings coaches have a sign stealing strategy that is allegedly used under Kevin O’Connell and Sean McVay

It’s a surprising revelation that shows how serious the NFL is.

Tyler Forness — NFL & College Football News Writer
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Aug 22, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell looks on against the Tennessee Titan during the first half at Nissan Stadium.
Aug 22, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell looks on against the Tennessee Titan during the first half at Nissan Stadium. Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

In the NFL, you always try to gain advantages in any way possible. Bill Belichick was notorious for exploiting the rulebook every year and forcing the league to change certain rules. The same New England Patriots were also caught spying on other teams, and the Spygate scandal was a huge deal.

During the last few years, we’ve also seen the Michigan Wolverines punished multiple times for stealing signs, with them having Connor Stallions travel to other stadiums to film the hand signals on the sidelines. Now, coaches can talk to the quarterbacks in their helmets just like in the NFL.

Former Vikings coaches using a sign-stealing system

Sign stealing isn’t illegal, but filming the other team’s signs certainly is. Former New York Jets head coach and current San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh revealed that the Jacksonville Jaguars use a legal sign-stealing system, citing the former Minnesota Vikings assistant coaches who joined the Jacksonville Jaguars and current head coach Kevin O’Connell.

“Liam [Coen] and his staff, including a couple of guys coming from Minnesota. They’ve got a legally advanced signal-stealing type system, where they always find a way to put themselves in an advantageous situation. They do a great job with it,” said Saleh. “You try to find any nugget they can. So we’ve got to be great with our signals, and we got to be great with our communication, and to combat some of the tells that we might give on the field. So they’re, they’re almost elite in that regard.

“That whole entire tree, from Sean [McVay] to Kevin O’Connell, all those guys, they all do it. So, there are challenges they’re going to catch us in some situations where they have the advantage, and we just got to play good, sound fundamental football and do our best to execute.”

It’s not a surprise that teams have a system in place to steal signs. What’s interesting is how prevalent it is in the McVay tree. Saleh hired Mike LaFleur as his original offensive coordinator, who spent significant time with McVay and Kyle Shanahan and is once again the Los Angeles Rams’ offensive coordinator.

O’Connell was also McVay’s offensive coordinator, so it isn’t a surprise to see him practice similar things. Now, the important thing is that Saleh isn’t claiming they are doing anything wrong; in fact, Saleh said it’s legal. You can steal signals organically by watching the other team and relaying the information to your team. If you can do that and follow all the rules, it will give you an advantage.

This is the first time that we’ve heard any allegations of any sign-stealing from the Vikings, especially from another coach. As long as the allegations are that the activity is all legal, then all power to them in trying to gain an advantage.

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