Kevin O'Connell Articles - Page 2

The future of Sam Darnold on the Minnesota Vikings is uncertain, but there felt like it could be hope after head coach Kevin O’Connell talking about the team. After being named Coach of the Year, O’Connell said their goal was to win a championship, and Darnold was going to be a big part of it […]

The Minnesota Vikings have a difficult decision to make at the quarterback position this offseason. Minnesota’s plan for the 2024 season was to play rookie QB JJ McCarthy with veteran Sam Darnold as his backup. Instead, McCarthy suffered a season-ending injury and paved the way for Darnold to have the best season of his professional […]

The Minnesota Vikings have their man in the head coach spot — even though Kevin O’Connell joined Dan Campbell as meme fodder. However, if the Vikings are going to soar in 2025, here are the two best players they must trade for in the offseason. It turned out to be a great regular season for […]

The Minnesota Vikings and head coach Kevin O’Connell will continue their success in the upcoming years. O’Connell and the Vikings agreed on a multi-year contract, according to the Vikings team website. After some uneasiness, the franchise has its guy. However, the move was anticipated, as O’Connell gave a two-word response about a possible Vikings extension. […]

The Minnesota Vikings looked every bit like a Super Bowl contender. But the last two game results got the Vikings immediately looking towards the offseason. That includes figuring out the 24th pick of the 2025 NFL Draft. Minnesota went from potential top seed in the NFC to exiting out of the first round. The Vikings […]

What a season it was for the four teams in the NFC North. The Detroit Lions were 15-2 and won the division, winning the NFC’s No. 1 overall seed in the playoffs in the process. The Minnesota Vikings were expected to have a down year, but instead, they finished 14-3 while beating the Green Bay […]

Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell had a memorable regular-season finale, clinching the NFC’s No. 1 seed with a win over the Minnesota Vikings. During the postgame handshake, Campbell confidently told Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell, “See you in two weeks,” anticipating a playoff rematch. However, Campbell’s bold words have come back to haunt him […]

The Minnesota Vikings had a great season, but unfortunately, it ended in the Wild Card round of the playoffs against the Los Angeles Rams. Throughout the season, there were many questions on whether the Vikings were real contenders, and they would show week in and week out that they were serious about trying to win. […]

It’s became crystal clear Monday night that the Minnesota Vikings can’t hang their future on Sam Darnold. His horrendous performance in the last two games is proof. And here are the Vikings most to blame for the Wild Card loss to the Rams. The sacks started early and never relented. Los Angeles sacked Darnold an […]

Kevin O’Connell’s wife, Leah, has been by his side for most of his professional football career. O’Connell has been in the NFL since 2008 when he started his football career as a backup quarterback for the New England Patriots. He is now planning for 2025 as head coach of the Minnesota Vikings following their first-round […]

The Minnesota Vikings lost in the Wild Card round, 27-9 against the Los Angeles Rams, and head coach Kevin O’Connell wasn’t pleased. While he was competing against his former head coach Sean McVay, there were more issues at hand. One of those was the amount of sacks. For instance, Kevin O’Connell sounded off on the […]

The Minnesota Vikings had a rough exit in the 2024 NFL Playoffs, with Sam Darnold getting sacked nine times in the 27-9 loss to the Los Angeles Rams in the Wild Card round. After a 14-3 regular season, it is a bitter exit, and Darnold reflected on the game, noting that he could have done […]

The Minnesota Vikings had their wildly successful season come to an end with a 27-9 loss to the Los Angeles Rams in the Wild Card round of the playoffs, and after a rough outing for quarterback Sam Darnold, head coach Kevin O’Connell reflected on the season in his press conference, leading many to believe that […]

Following a disastrous 27-9 loss from Sam Darnold and the Minnesota Vikings to wrap up Wild Card Weekend, head coach Kevin O’Connell left the media with something to chew on before the upcoming offseason. Although the Vikings would’ve preferred to defeat the Los Angeles Rams and advance to the next round, that wasn’t the outcome, […]

Monday night features a unique coaching matchup between Sean McVay of the Los Angeles Rams and Kevin O’Connell of the Minnesota Vikings. This resulted in former NFL coach Jay Gruden providing his thoughts on the matchup. “So Sean McVay Vs Kevin O’Connell tonight,” Gruden posted on X, formerly Twitter. “I hired em both. Bet I […]

A “players coach” is something of a rarity in the modern NFL, but it appears that Minnesota Vikings’ Kevin O’Connell has met the criteria. The Vikings reached the NFC playoffs for the second time since O’Connell took over as head coach in 2022. Veteran cornerback Shaq Griffin sees clear similarities between O’Connell’s ability as a […]

With the Wild Card Weekend kicking off on Saturday, Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning joined Kevin Clark on This Is Football to discuss the coaches leading each team in the postseason. To reach the playoffs, a team must be well-coached. And when asked which coach Manning would’ve liked to be coached by, he didn’t […]

Following the vicious fires in the Los Angeles, CA, region that caused this Wild Card game to relocate, Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell had a heartfelt message for Sean McVay and the Los Angeles Rams before their playoff matchup, per ESPN. “There’s really no words you can say other than you’re thinking about them, […]

The Minnesota Vikings have made a lot of moves in the week leading up to their Wild Card matchup with the Los Angeles Rams, particularly at quarterback. Before the team finalizes its depth chart, head coach Kevin O’Connell teased Daniel Jones potentially leaping over Nick Mullens to serve as Sam Darnold’s backup. O’Connell was asked […]

When the Los Angeles Rams decided to take their foot off the proverbial gas in Week 18 to rest their starters ahead of the playoffs, it left fans with one major takeaway: LA must have been okay with playing against the Minnesota Vikings or the Detroit Lions in the Wildcard Round. On paper, the idea […]

After taking losses in their final games of the season, the Los Angeles Rams and Minnesota Vikings are gearing up for Week 8 Part Two during Super Wildcard Weekend, a winner-takes-all battle to advance in the NFL playoffs. Soon, fans will see if the Vikings can right their wrongs from back in November, proving that […]

The Minnesota Vikings are preparing for a critical Wild Card clash against the Los Angeles Rams. The pressure is immense for a team that has consistently shown potential but is still striving to get over the hump and translate that promise into playoff success. With star players ready to step up on the big stage […]

The Minnesota Vikings fell flat on their faces during their biggest game of the season on Sunday night in Detroit. Kevin O’Connell’s squad fell 31-9 to the Detroit Lions, surrendering the NFC’s No. 1 seed and setting up a Wild Card Weekend matchup with the Los Angeles Rams at Sofi Stadium. The loss snapped a […]

The Minnesota Vikings have been one of the best stories in the NFL throughout the 2024 season. Minnesota finished the regular season with a 14-3 record, which is better than anyone imagined before the start of the season. Unfortunately, the Vikings suffered a crushing 31-9 loss on Sunday Night Football in a game where everything […]

The Minnesota Vikings entered Week 18 eager to solidify their playoff standing. However, their aspirations were crushed in a lackluster 31-9 defeat to the Detroit Lions. This game was more than just a disappointing loss. It starkly exposed the team’s weaknesses and raised critical concerns about their playoff readiness. As the Lions reveled in their […]

The Detroit Lions are once again the kings of the NFC North Division, clinching their second consecutive division title with Sunday night’s 31-9 victory over the Minnesota Vikings inside what was truly an electric atmosphere inside Ford Field. Quarterback Jared Goff completed 27 of 33 passes for 231 yards and a touchdown, while also overcoming […]

It wouldn’t seem like Kevin O’Connell would be in the running for any coaching vacancies this offseason or even in the foreseeable future, but according to a Jay Glazer report, the Minnesota Vikings coach has drawn a lot of interest around the league and is a “surprise” candidate for some jobs. Since taking over as […]

To call this a massive matchup would be an understatement. The Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings play in Week 18 for all the marbles in the NFC. Both teams come into this matchup at 14-2 and both teams are locked into the playoffs, but there are massive implications on the line as far as playoff […]

With the Minnesota Vikings holding a 14-2 record, they could secure the No. 1 seed in the NFC on Sunday Night Football against the Detroit Lions. With tame expectations coming into 2024, Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell had one moment during the offseason where he knew they could contend for a Super Bowl, as mentioned […]

When the Minnesota Vikings signed Sam Darnold earlier this year, it was to serve as a bridge quarterback to whichever player the team landed in the 2024 NFL draft. Now sure, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah surely had some preferences as to who he would like to end up with, maybe Michael Pennix, maybe JJ McCarthy, […]

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold gave an eye-opening reaction to his team’s massive win against the Green Bay Packers. Head coach Kevin O’Connell’s team has been one of the best stories this year. At the forefront of this franchise’s 14-2 season is a quarterback who has been labeled a bust for most of his career. […]

The Minnesota Vikings noticeably needed to operate without running back Aaron Jones towards the end. Jones left late during the Vikings’ 27-25 win over the rival Green Bay Packers Sunday. Jones, facing his former team, never returned. Turned out that was a Kevin O’Connell head coaching decision, per NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport. “Vikings coach […]

This is undoubtedly the top NFL game in the penultimate weekend of the season, as these two NFC North powerhouses meet at U.S. Bank Stadium. Ahead of the Green Bay Packers-Minnesota Vikings Week 17 game, we will be making our Vikings predictions. The Vikings (13-2) have had a brilliant season and come into this game […]

The Minnesota Vikings beat the Seattle Seahawks in Week 16 27-24. Justin Jefferson was dominant, hauling in 10 catches for 144 yards and two touchdowns. His first score put his team up 14-7 in the first half, and he hit his traditional Griddy touchdown dance. But he was looking at Devon Witherspoon when he danced, […]

After the Minnesota Vikings pulled off a gritty win against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 16, head coach Kevin O’Connell was at the center of the final minutes. His headset mysteriously stopped working, and quarterback Sam Darnold ran over to the sideline and asked for the call. Luckily for Minnesota, they secured a Justin Jefferson […]

After selecting JJ McCarthy with the 10th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, had you told Minnesota Vikings fans that it would be Sam Darnold leading the team into the final weeks of the season, they would’ve likely assumed that something had gone terribly wrong. In reality, losing McCarthy to a torn meniscus over […]

The Minnesota Vikings have slowly grown from one of the best stories in the NFL this season into a team that feels like it can truly compete for an NFC Championship and a Super Bowl. The Vikings improved to 13-2 on Sunday with another nail biting win, this time over the Seattle Seahawks 27-24. With […]

The Minnesota Vikings keep on finding ways to win and continue their unbeaten streak. On Sunday, quarterback Sam Darnold and wide receiver Justin Jefferson connected on an incredible touchdown that gave Minnesota the lead for good in what turned out to be a 27-24 win against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field in Seattle. Not […]

The Minnesota Vikings beat the Seattle Seahawks 30-27 in Week 16. It marks Minnesota’s 13th win as they maintain their own destiny in the NFC one-seed race. They had low expectations coming into the season and they dropped even lower when JJ McCarthy suffered a knee injury. The rookie quarterback says that Kevin O’Connell should […]