Vikings HC Kevin O’Connell Gets Emotional Talking About Sam Darnold

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Sam Darnold, Kevin O'Connell : San Francisco 49ers at Minnesota Vikings
Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images

If we’re going to crown him, we should crown him right? That’s what Denny Green told us to do. And after Sam Darnold led the Minnesota Vikings to a convincing victory over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, to move his record as our starting QB 2-0, the same as his new team’s 2024 record.

It’s a long season, and the Vikings bridge QB1 still has a lot to improve on. Nobody will point that out faster than Sam, himself. But let’s be honest, Darnold’s first two games in purple could not have gone any better.

I don’t want to speak for anyone else, but if someone from the future had told me, back in July, that the Vikings were going to start the season 2-0 and Sam Darnold would be 36-of-50 (72%) for 476 yards, 4 TD and 2 INT… I would have called you a phony.

Then, just in case, I would have placed a couple of Vikings-friendly sports wagers somewhere. But that’s not the point. Nobody believed in Sam Darnold, for years. That remained true this offseason, when Minnesota signed the USC legend, all the way up until kickoff vs the Niners on Sunday.

Kevin O’Connell gets emotional when asked about Sam Darnold

Well, almost nobody. Kevin O’Connell believed in Sam Darnold. That’s why he is in Minnesota. Of all the available bridge quarterbacks this offseason, the Vikings head coach targeted the 27-year-old former No. 3 overall pick, turned free agent.

And that explains why KOC got choked up a little bit after the win, on Sunday, when talking about Darnold and the first couple stops on his 2024 revenge tour. I typed out a transcript, below, but you can’t feel the emotion unless you listen.

“Playing against his former team… umm, you know, just… the amount of work that goes into that position, on your quarterback journey, when everybody decides that you can’t play… we always believed in him and it felt awesome to watch him go do that thing. I’m really proud of Sam Darnold.”

Kevin O’Connell on how it feels to watch Sam Darnold succeed early in Minnesota

Related: It’s Only Week 2 and Adam Thielen is Already Losing His Nerve in Carolina

It isn’t just his head coach heaping praise on Sam Darnold. His teammates seem to be falling more and more head-over-heels for their new QB every week. After the game, the entire locker room cheered for their new quarterback and talked to media members about, not just his on-field talent, but his off-the-field leadership too.

Maturity showing in new Minnesota Vikings quarterback

Darnold’s conversation with reporters, after the win, went much different than those with O’Connell, or other Vikings players. Sam refused to pat himself on the back, in his postgame presser.

Instead, he pushed credit on his defense and special teams, while reiterating a ‘one day at a time’ mentality. He noted improvement that is needed, regarding offensive operation and his own footwork.

Darnold: “Our defense played really well. Our special team stepped, as well, with a blocked punt. We have a lot to improve on offense, but it was a good win against a really good team.”

Collins: “Expound on that, offensively. What do you feel like needs to improve before next week?”

Darnold: “Just operation, I think. Just cleaning up my feet, in the pocket, going through my progressions. But hey, a win is a win. We’ll take it, but we have a lot to learn and I’m excited to move forward.”

Related: Minnesota Vikings Give Justin Jefferson Injury Update

No doubt, the maturity of Sam Darnold over the last handful of years, is on full display right now. Where does that lead the Minnesota Vikings in 2024, or his career beyond 2024? Unless you have a crystal ball or you can contact the aforementioned Vikings fan with a time machine… we’ll have to just wait and find out.

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