Vikings choose their head coach of the future: Kevin O’Connell staying put in Minnesota

After a season during which the Minnesota Vikings returned to the elite dialog they’ve determined to maintain their head coach on for the long run. Kevin O’Connell and the Vikings reached a multi-year extension on Tuesday afternoon.

Vikings entrust O’Donnell

Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissaro reported that the 2 events had reached an settlement simply over every week after their first spherical exit from the playoffs. The quantity was not said within the report, nor the period, however coach O’Connell, who was on the verge of his ultimate yr in Minnesota shall be sticking round for the years to return.

“Kevin is strictly who we believed him to be once we named him as our head coach — an progressive play-caller, a wonderful communicator and a robust chief who motivates and connects along with his gamers,” stated Vikings president Mark Wilf after the deal was reached. “He has helped set up a tradition that positions us for sustained success, and he’ll proceed to set the usual we want as we pursue a championship for Vikings followers.”

Minnesota is coming off of a 14 win season during which they have been battling for the one seed within the NFC till the final week of the season. They got here up brief in opposition to the Detroit Lions in a battle for the highest seed, and misplaced dwelling area benefit within the ultimate 4 quarters of the common season. That arrange a match up with the Los Angeles Rams within the first spherical of the playoffs. They misplaced that recreation from a impartial website in Arizona and the Vikings dream season got here to and abrupt finish.

Profession path

O’Connell has been with the Vikings since 2022 when he was named head coach after serving as offensive coordinator with the LA Rams and the Washington Redskins. He led the Vikes to the playoffs in his first yr at US Financial institution Stadium, however final yr Minnesota crashed out of the playoff image after Kirk Cousins tore his achilles halfway by the season. This season they not solely returned to the playoffs, they have been thought-about among the many prime groups within the league your complete season, however had a quick playoff run that was ended within the Wild Card division. Regardless of the early exit, O’Connell expressed his content material along with his state of affairs and his bosses in Minnesota.

“What I’d say is I like being the pinnacle coach of the Minnesota Vikings,” O’Connell stated on Jan. 16. “I like our possession, I’ve an excellent relationship with our possession. Really feel so lucky, like I stated, not solely the best way they help us and imagine in us, but additionally the impression they’ve on our gamers, our locker room and in the end the place all of us wish to go collectively. Really feel very, very nice about that.”

O’Connell has a 34-17 report with two playoff appearances in his three years at US Financial institution Stadium. Over the offseason there are going to be some huge choices relating to personnel for the yr to return. The most important one would be the way forward for Sam Darnold who had a breakout season with the Vikings, however his inventory dropped terribly within the ultimate two video games of the season. Darnold is a free agent after his one yr deal got here to an finish and J.J. McCarthy was chosen to be the QB of the long run however is coming off of a knee damage that compelled him to overlook his complete rookie season.