The Minnesota Vikings are one of the biggest surprises of the 2024 NFL season. Many picked this team to finish at the bottom of the NFC North. Instead, they have gone 13-2 and are currently in the running for the number one overall seed in the conference. Fans and analysts have given much of the credit to one person: head coach Kevin O’Connell. He has resurrected the career of former top-five pick Sam Darnold and taken a roster that isn’t the most talent-filled to the top of the NFL. According to a recent report, the Vikings are already looking to extend O’Connell.
Minnesota Vikings Looking To Extend Kevin O’Connell
After this season, an extension for Kevin O’Connell seems like a no-brainer. According to Diana Russini of The Athletic, an extension “could happen soon” as the head coach will be entering the final year of his contract in the offseason. It isn’t just the performance of the team this season that has impressed the Minnesota Vikings ownership. In his first season, he went 13-4, leading the team to a playoff appearance. While that season ended in a first-round playoff loss, it was a great start to his coaching career.
Last year was defined by injuries. Quarterback Kirk Cousins tore his Achilles, and star receiver Justin Jefferson was injured for a large portion of the season. O’Connell boasts a .673 winning percentage during his almost three years in Minnesota. How big the extension is may depend on how the season ends. If the Minnesota Vikings keep playing the way they have, a deep playoff run could happen.
Sam Darnold
The reason many are high on Kevin O’Connell is the work he has done with Sam Darnold. Darnold spent five years as a starter in the league, three with the Jets and two with the Panthers. His record was 21-34 as a starter. The most yards he ever had in a season was 3,024, and the most touchdowns was 19. Through 15 games this season, Darnold has thrown for 3,776 yards and 32 touchdowns. He will look to add to that total in the final two games of the season.
Darnold came into the season as an afterthought. The Minnesota Vikings drafted former Michigan Wolverines quarterback JJ McCarthy with a top-ten pick in this year’s draft. After a torn meniscus ended his season, the team had to turn to Darnold, who signed a one-year deal in the offseason. O’Connell has clearly coached him up well and made him comfortable in the offense. Darnold went from bouncing from team to team to a player who will get a huge contract in the offseason.
Final Thoughts
Getting the right head coach is difficult. Many teams go through countless candidates to try and find the right fit. The Vikings have found a good one. The team has many big decisions to make this offseason. Signing Kevin O’Connell to an extension will be the easiest one to make.
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