Kevin O’Connell’s Minnesota Vikings had an exciting season, but it didn’t end as he had hoped. Despite a disappointing postseason finish, O’Connell’s impressive regular-season performance earned him the NFL’s Coach of the Year award.
O’Connell was honored with the prestigious title on Thursday during the NFL Honors ceremony. He outpaced Detroit Lions’ head coach Dan Campbell and three other finalists: Dan Quinn of the Washington Commanders, Andy Reid of the Kansas City Chiefs, and Sean Payton of the Denver Broncos. O’Connell received 25 first-place votes, while Campbell garnered 19, Reid had four, and both Payton and Quinn received one.
Under O’Connell’s leadership, the Vikings finished with a 14-3 record, making him the first coach in franchise history to have multiple seasons with at least 13 wins. He had previously achieved a 13-4 record in his debut season in 2022. Although the Vikings were contenders for the top NFC playoff spot, they were defeated by the Lions in Week 18. Their season ended with a loss to the Los Angeles Rams in the wild-card round.
After first-round quarterback J.J. McCarthy was sidelined with a season-ending knee injury during preseason, Sam Darnold stepped in as the starting quarterback and delivered a career-best performance. Darnold earned a Pro Bowl selection after throwing for 4,319 yards, 35 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions.
“I put a lot of thought into this season with this team. I believed we had the potential to be a special group,” O’Connell explained. “I didn’t focus much on preseason predictions or use them to motivate the team. It was never about that. It was about my confidence in our organization, in our coaches, and in our players to come together and focus on winning one game at a time, starting with the opener. From there, it was all about focusing on the next victory.”
“I believe this is a perfect example that it takes both people and the right circumstances to come together in order to achieve something unique. It didn’t end the way we wanted, but now it’s back to work. I’m incredibly proud of what this team accomplished this year,” O’Connell said.
Following the season, the Vikings revealed that they had agreed to a contract extension with O’Connell.
“Kevin is exactly what we envisioned when we hired him as our head coach – a creative play caller, a great communicator, and a strong leader who inspires and builds strong relationships with his players,” said Vikings owner and president Mark Wilf. “He has played a key role in creating a culture that sets us up for long-term success, and he will continue to lead us as we strive for a championship for our fans.”
