Pro Football Writers name Kevin O’Connell NFL Coach of the Year
Vikings, Kevin O'Connell agree to multi-year extension
The Minnesota Vikings and Kevin O'Connell have agreed to a multi-year contract extension. O'Connell is 34-19 in 3 seasons with the Vikings and has led Minnesota to the NFC Playoffs twice.
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - Kevin O’Connell and the Minnesota Vikings agreed to a multi-year contract extension on Tuesday.
On Thursday, O’Connell was named the NFL Coach of the Year by the Pro Football Writers of America. And he might not be done piling up the awards.
The Vikings went 14-3 in the regular season, O’Connell’s third in Minnesota. In three full seasons, O’Connell is 34-19 and has led Minnesota to the NFC Playoffs twice. He’s the fastest coach to 30 wins in franchise history, and is the only coach to have multiple 13-win seasons in his first three years. This marks O’Connell’s first Coach of the Year award.
KOC isn’t going anywhere
Why it matters: The Vikings made it official earlier this week that they’re keeping O’Connell in Minnesota on a long-term extension. That’s despite reports before the final regular season game that multiple teams would have interest in trading for O’Connell. There was also a report that there was tension between O’Connell and the Vikings’ ownership group about his contract.
O’Connell was set to enter the final year of his current deal in the 2025 season, but now he’s staying in Minnesota. His only blemish is that he’s now 0-2 in the playoffs.
More awards coming?
What we know: O’Connell is a finalist for the AP Coach of the Year, and he’s likely in the running for the NFL Coach of the Year, presented during Super Bowl week at the NFL Honors.
What we don’t know: If he did enough to beat out Lions’ coach Dan Campbell, Commanders coach Dan Quinn or Chiefs’ coach Any Reid. Campbell led Detroit to a 15-2 record and the No. 1 seed in the NFC. Quinn has the Commanders in the NFC title game after a four-win season last year, and Reid has the Chiefs in the AFC title game for the seventh straight year.