Kevin O’Connell Contract Extension is Reportedly Coming Soon
Since becoming the Vikings’ head coach in 2022, Kevin O’Connell has led Minnesota to two winning seasons and is on pace for the most wins in a season since 1998. However, the third-year head coach is expected to receive a contract extension.
Minnesota Vikings on the verge of extending Kevin O’Connell?
According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, O’Connell’s deal is expected to “happen soon.” O’Connell, a heavy candidate for Coach of the Year, is under contract through next season and would attract the attention of multiple teams if he hit the open market.
before the organization makes any decision at quarterback they need to get head coach Kevin O’Connell signed up for years to come. They took a gamble by not signing him with two years left on his deal. O’Connell has since orchestrated another winning season, reviving another quarterback in Darnold, and is expected to garner Coach of the Year votes. The expectation is a new deal could happen soon. Otherwise, O’Connell is a lame duck in 2025 and will be in high demand. More good problems in Minnesota.
Diana Russini – The Athletic
Under Kevin O’Connell, the Vikings have totaled 33 wins and counting — the most in any three-season stretch since Dennis Green led Minnesota to 36 wins from 1998 to 2000.
In his first year, the now 39-year-old head coach led the Minnesota Vikings to the playoffs and stood alone at the top of the NFC North with a 13-4 record. Though a loss in the wild card quickly ended any hopes of a Super Bowl, O’Connell has since become one of the league’s finest coaches. Despite failing to make the postseason last year, O’Connell has fully turned the Vikings around and transformed them into a playoff threat again.
How good is KOC?
Though O’Connell’s path back into contention has seemed effortless, the ill fortune at the quarterback position has been the real story in Minnesota during the KOC tenure. Kirk Cousins ended his Minnesota Vikings career with a torn Achilles in 2023.
Then in the first preseason game of his NFL career, first-round draft pick J.J. McCarthy was ruled out for the 2024 season with a torn right meniscus. In both scenarios, O’Connell dug back to his quarterback coaching days to find a solution at the helm of his offense.
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Last year, he made guys like Nick Mullens and Josh Dobbs into serviceable NFL QBs. Fast-forward to today, he’s helped spin former No. 3 overall bust Sam Darnold into a legitimate MVP candidate, tossing for 3,776 passing yards, 32 touchdowns, just 11 interceptions and an elite 67.2 percent completion percentage.
KOC's Vikings and Dagger: an iconic duo 👇
— NFL Films (@NFLFilms) December 27, 2024
Sam Darnold's clutch 3rd and long conversions have been key to their success all year long.@NFLMatchup | @GregCosell | @DariusJButler pic.twitter.com/d866vZ0iNk
There’s no doubt that the secret behind the Minnesota Vikings’ success is their head coach. For future success to be had, securing an offensive mastermind like O’Connell needs to be a top priority. Why KOC hasn’t been extended already is a mystery I cannot solve.
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