I guess the trade talk is over and done with
Since he was hired ahead of the 2022 season, Kevin O’Connell has won two-thirds of the games he’s coached for the Minnesota Vikings and could be in line to win a Coach of the Year Award in a couple of weeks. Apparently, despite all of the Really Smart Football People™ suggesting that the Vikings could trade O’Connell and even suggesting that he might be disappointed with the team’s leadership, he’s going to be around for a while.
Multiple sources are reporting that the Vikings and O’Connell have agreed on a multi-year contract extension. The terms of the deal have not yet been disclosed, but I’m guessing the level of financial compensation is going to be significant. It also means that O’Connell is no longer going into the final year of the contract he signed when the team first hired him.
O’Connell currently has a record of 34-17 with the Vikings in three regular seasons. Yes, he’s 0-2 in the playoffs to this point in his career, but that’s eventually going to come around. After all, it took Dennis Green six seasons to finally win a postseason game (even after making the playoffs four times in his first five years as the Vikings’ coach) and he seemed to be okay.
O’Connell released a statement after agreeing to the deal.
Your head coach, Kevin O’Connell, on agreeing to terms on a contract extension. pic.twitter.com/Y2mC3FzjoN
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) January 21, 2025
The statement is as follows:
It is an absolute honor to continue leading the Minnesota Vikings. Holding this prestigious position is something I never take for granted, and I want to express my sincere gratitude to the Wilf family for their unwavering belief in what we are building together. I also want to thank Leah and our incredible children; their love and support allow me to perform this job at a high level. And none of this would be possible without the dedication of our coaches, players, and support staff. I can’t wait to get back to work with all of them as we continue to build upon the high standard we’ve set and the positive environment we’ve created.
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.
Now the attention will shift to the contract status of General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, who ultimately made the decision to hire O’Connell when he became the GM in early 2022.
Congratulations to Kevin O’Connell and the Minnesota Vikings on a deal that will keep one of the NFL’s best young coaches in the fold for a long time to come!
