On Thursday Night at the NFL Honors program in New Orleans, Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell was named the Associated Press Coach of the Year. O’Connell beat out other worthy competitors like Dan Campbell of the Detroit Lions and Washington Commanders coach Dan Quinn. But still, something is missing from his resume. A milestone that he still has not attained. A dream to be fulfilled. Some unfinished business.
O’Connell is now recognized not only as one of the best coaches in the league but also as a player’s coach, whom the NFL players have named the coach they most want to play for. But he knows there is still a great deal left to accomplish, principally taking his team to the next level of winning a playoff game and eventually a Super Bowl for two.
Kevin O’Connell and the Vikings
O’Connell has done a masterful job of turning a Vikings team around that was rife with dissension and going nowhere before he was hired. At the end of the 2021 season, then-head coach Mike Zimmer and former general manager Rick Spielman had not spoken to each other in months. Not only that, but Zimmer also had cut off most of his communication with quarterback Kirk Cousins. Fortunately, the Wilf brothers, owners of the team, recognized this and brought in O’Connell and general manager Kweszi Adofo-Mensah to right the ship.
And turn things around they did, despite a draft class that has all but fizzled. Winning a series of one-score wins, O’Connell led the Vikings to a 13-4 record, winning the NFC North Division for the first time since 2017. But they were unceremoniously dumped in a home NFC Wild Game 31-24 by a less talented New Giants team. And the team fell on its face in 2023.
Minnesota lost quarterback Cousins for the season after he suffered a torn Achilles in Week 8. The interior of the offensive line failed at protecting the quarterback and opening holes for the Vikings’s running backs. And on the other side of the ball, the unit that defensive coordinator Brian Flores had strung together with string and duct tape had their clock strike midnight and suffered through a disastrous second half of the season.
2024 Season
The team’s prospects coming into this season looked equally bleak. Their replacement for Cousins, who had bolted to the Atlanta Falcons for big cash, was former top prospect Sam Darnold. Darnold had bounced between three teams, and his stop in Minnesota appeared to be his last call in the NFL. The Viking signed aging, oft-injured ex-Packer running back Aaron Jones, and massive problems still existed on the interior offensive line. On defense, they lost All-Pro defensive end Danielle Hunter in free agency to the Houston Texas, and his running mate D.J. Wonnum also departed. Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel, who were talented but unknown in Minnesota, were brought in to replace the pair.
From the Texans, they also signed inside linebacker Blake Cashman, who they hoped was not a one-hit wonder after a breakout 2023 season. They entered the season with one of the oldest secondaries in the NFL, led by a pair of aged former stars, safety Harrison Smith and cornerback Stephon Gilmore. But somehow, O’Connell and Flores worked their magic as they coached the Vikings to a 14-3 slate, barely missing the division title by a whisker. But Darnold broke down in the last two games of the season, including the NFC Wild Card Game, where they lost 27-9 to the Los Angeles Rams to once again end their hopes for a long playoff run.
What’s Next
O’Connell, Adofo-Mensah, Flores, and the entire Vikings management team have some critical decisions to make this offseason as they attempt to reach their dream of winning a Super Bowl. A decision has to be made about free agent Darnold. However, with first-round draft pick J.J. McCarthy (who missed the entire season with a torn meniscus) and Daniel Jones (acquired at mid-season), Darnold may have played his last down for Minnesota.
They must decide whether to re-sign running back Jones, and all three interior offensive line positions could use replacements. On defense, they must retain Pro Bowl free agent cornerback Byron Murphy and also add depth to the position. And finally, their interior pass rush has been inadequate for the past few seasons, so an infusion of new talent here is necessary. And they must do all of this with a small draft class consisting of four picks.
Closing
All of this is a tall order for O’Connell and crew. But I wouldn’t bet against them, For even though the Vikings have not achieved playoff success under his tutelage, O’Connell and his team have built a solid foundation, and this team should compete for the big prize for the next several years.
