The Minnesota Vikings have secured a multi-year extension for head coach Kevin O’Connell, ensuring his leadership for the foreseeable future
Minneapolis: Kevin O’Connell is sticking around with the Vikings. The team just announced a new multi-year contract extension for him. While we don’t have all the details yet, it looks like he’ll be in Minnesota for a while.
Vikings owner Mark Wilf praised O’Connell, saying he’s exactly what they hoped for when they hired him. He’s a great play caller and really connects with the players. Wilf believes O’Connell has built a strong culture that will help the team succeed long-term.
They’re also looking to extend general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s contract, but we don’t know when that will happen. O’Connell was entering the last year of his deal, so this is a big move for the team.
In his three seasons, O’Connell has a solid 34-17 record and has taken the Vikings to the playoffs twice. Last season, they had a great run, finishing 14-3, but they stumbled at the end and lost in the playoffs.
Even with that hiccup, O’Connell is in the running for Coach of the Year. He took over the head coaching role in 2022 after a stint as the Rams’ offensive coordinator.
O’Connell expressed his gratitude to the Wilf family and his family for their support. He’s excited to keep building on the positive environment they’ve created and can’t wait to get back to work.
He also had a shoutout for the Vikings fans, saying they’re the best in the NFL. He loves leading the team in front of them every Sunday and is looking forward to the future.
Now, O’Connell’s goal is to get the Vikings back to the playoffs next fall. They haven’t won a playoff game since 2019, and there are some questions at quarterback. But with O’Connell’s position secured and Adofo-Mensah likely to follow, the Vikings are in a good spot to make it happen.