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Kevin O’Connell and Vikings Agree to Multiyear Contract Extension

More Coaching Contract News Coming From the NFC North as Vikings & O’Connell Agree to Extension

O’Connell Is Staying With Minnesota for the Long Run

It seems as if the Minnesota Vikings didn’t feel like being upstaged by the Chicago Bears’ hiring Ben Johnson as their new head coach, pulling off their own NFL news shocker offering current HC Kevin O’Connell a multi-year contract extension to stay with the organization.

 

Kevin O'Connell and Vikings Agree to Multiyear Contract Extension
Head coach Kevin O’Connell of the Minnesota Vikings / Mike Mulholland/Getty Images/AFP

After his third season leading the Vikings and finally finding the road to turn his team into a true NFL picks and predictions favorite, O’Connell is finally being rewarded with a contract extension that will allow him to continue paving the road to success with his players.

Also, it allows both the team and coach to lay rest to any stress regarding O’Connell potentially entering the free agency market following the 2025 season, which, in principle, was bound to be the last in his previous deal.

With a heartfelt thank you message to the organization and fans following the deal, O’Connell stated: “To Vikings fans, you are the best in the NFL. There is no greater joy than leading our team in front of you each Sunday and experiencing the home field advantage you create. I’m thrilled for the years ahead and will continue to give you everything I have as we pursue a Super Bowl for the state of Minnesota.

It’s safe to chalk up a W for the Vikings here.

 

To All Teams Wanting Kevin, Better Luck Next Time

Considering his 34-17 record with Minnesota in three years, with his best season having just finished with a 14-3 tally, and being a betting odds favorite to win the NFL Coach of the Year award, it’s easy to understand why O’Connell was quickly becoming one of the most sought-after choices for teams looking for a new head coach.

Even before falling in the wild-card round of the playoffs to the LA Rams, the NFL rumors storm building up around the idea of O’Connell potentially leaving the Vikings and continuing to gain more and more strength.

For a quick second, there were even serious talks going around of which teams would be willing to go on a hot pursuit for O’Connell.

Assuming somebody in the Vikings front offices saw what was happening, the team took no time to offer their man the well-deserved extension to continue with the same mission he’s been working on since day one.

Now though, while everybody celebrates O’Connell’s deal, how about giving Vikings General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah his well-deserved props, too?

Considering he initially brought O’Connell to Minnesota, somebody should at least buy this man a cup of coffee and a donut from Bogart’s Doughnuts as a thank you (IYKYK).

Again, chalk up the W for the Vikings here.

 

Will O’Connell Run It Back With Sam Darnold?

Putting all the hype and good feelings aside for a second, it’s time we talk about the elephant in Minnesota’s room. With O’Connell staying put, what will happen with quarterback Sam Darnold?

From leading the team week in and week out to score 14 out of 17 wins in their NFL schedule and even being deemed as a potential MVP dark horse candidate to choking in the team’s wild-card loss against the Rams, cheers quickly turned to boos for Darnold.

If the Vikings are dead serious about making an actual run for the Super Bowl next season, or at least in the near future, does it make sense to keep Darnold and give him another chance?

Or should the Vikings let him walk, get a deal somewhere else, and give 2nd-year rookie QB J.J. McCarthy, who was initially slated to be the team’s QB1 this past season, another shot at showing what he can do?

For now, word around the league is that the Vikings are showing more interest in sticking with McCarthy and shooting a prayer rather than paying Darnold.

The good thing is O’Connell will have plenty of time to decide which passer to continue building the team with.

Who knows, maybe he’ll run into Dan Campbell while on vacation and ask for some advice, especially considering they were bound to meet up in two weeks, according to the Lions’ HC.

Chalk up an L for Detroit.

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