Report: There is Tension Between Kevin O’Connell and the Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings’ offseason is officially underway following a tough 27-9 loss in the wildcard round of the playoffs. After finishing the regular season with a strong 14-3 record, it all ended up feeling like a letdown.
Now, the Vikings are turning their attention to the 2025-26 season and extending head coach Kevin O’Connell and GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. Both are entering the final year of their contracts in 2025.
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Minnesota Vikings + Kevin O’Connell contract talks causing tension
In Week 18, late Sunday morning, Fox NFL Insider Jay Glazer dropped a bombshell out of nowhere, suggesting that we should keep an eye out for a potential trade involving Kevin O’Connell. The report came just before the most crucial game of the season, a game against the Lions.
And now, a new report from Mike Florio at ProFootballTalk today revealed that these KOC trade rumors “wasn’t idle talk”, even going as far as to say that “there’s tension in the relationship” between O’Connell and the Vikings. Would the 2024 Coach of the Year favorite really run out his contract, then walk? Florio believes it’s possible.
The Week 18 Sunday Splash! report from Jay Glazer that multiple teams are interested in trading for O’Connell wasn’t idle talk. There’s tension in the relationship, stemming largely from the fact that he didn’t get an extension after his second season. Now that he’s one year away from free agency, he could be willing to let it ride, if necessary, and hit the market.
But if O’Connell chooses to bet on himself for one more year, he might end up with a lot more from another team than whatever the Vikings will offer.
Mike Florio – ProFootballTalk
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Kevin O’Connell has already made Vikings history as the only head coach to rack up multiple 13+ win seasons and he’s only been on the job for three years. That kind of success proves he’s a winner and solidifies his status as one of the top coaches in the league. It also gives O’Connell and his camp more leverage moving forward.
The Minnesota Vikings just picked up their potential franchise quarterback, JJ McCarthy, in the first round last year. So, it’s pretty wild to imagine Kevin O’Connell leaving the team anytime soon. But hey, in the NFL, you never know what might happen.
O’Connell could want more control
According to Florio in the quote above, O’Connell was reportedly frustrated about not getting an extension after last season. That might be true, but considering he was only two years into a four-year deal, it’s not exactly normal to sign an extension so soon.
That’s not the only problem area in negotiations, though. Florio wonders too, if KOC wants more control over roster construction, something local insider Charley Walters (Pioneer Press) has also mentioned recently.
Beyond money, O’Connell could be looking for more say in roster construction. For better alignment with the General Manager. For a situation where he’ll have more of what he needs to put together a team that can both get to the playoffs and win when the postseason arrives.
Mike Florio – ProFootballTalk
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Shortly after writing the cited article above from ProFootballTalk.com, Florio took the the KFAN airwaves with Paul Allen (KFAN), and he backed up Glazer’s report again. He pushed back against PA’s conspiracy theories on the timing of the KOC trade rumors. Florio suggests the info likely got to the FOX insider via O’Connell’s camp or chatter from around the league.
Mike Florio of @ProFootballTalk expands on the orgin of the @JayGlazer report about teams trading for @Vikings HC Kevin O’Connell 👀
— The Purple Persuasion (@TPPSkol) January 15, 2025
Florio says the source of Glazer’s report started from either O’Connell’s camp or Glazer discovered this after digging with numerous teams that… https://t.co/q0Gt5DUswF pic.twitter.com/YFzeRQhjbh
With just one year remaining on Kevin O’Connell’s first head coaching contract, we are sure to see contract talks heat up. Will those talks lead to an extension with the Minnesota Vikings? Maybe even a trade? It’s definitely an offseason storyline worth keeping an eye on.
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