A Kevin O’Connell Extension in the Works?
Josh Frey
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About two years ago, the Minnesota Vikings hired Kevin O’Connell to be the next head coach of the team, ringing in a new era of Vikings football.
The decision came after the team parted ways with Mike Zimmer, who held the role for eight years and led Minnesota to the NFC Championship Game during the 2017 season. Now, two years into O’Connell’s tenure, there have been reported rumblings that O’Connell could receive a new extension with the team prior to the 2024 season.
A Kevin O’Connell Extension Could Happen Prior to the 2024 Season
Through his first two seasons as head coach of the Vikings, O’Connell has a record of 20-14, which ties Dennis Green for the most wins over the first two seasons of a head coaching stint in Vikings history.
Darren Wolfson of KSTP joined the Mackey and Judd show on the SKOR North network this week to discuss a potential O’Connell extension, and Wolfson said of the Vikings head coach, “I can see a contract extension happening before the start of the season. They love him that much.”
O’Connell’s contract currently is set to expire following the 2025 season seeing as he got a four-year deal to take over the head coaching job. It should also be noted that GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s contract is set to expire at the same time.
It’s interesting that Minnesota only gave O’Connell a four-year contract, considering many new head coaches have been receiving five or six years on their deals (the Carolina Panthers gave Dave Canales six years as a first-time head coach).
Still, O’Connell has shown that he can lead a team to playoff contention, so it would make sense for him to be retained by the Vikings. Minnesota went 13-4 during his first season, winning the NFC North by largely relying on the offense to earn victories. They ranked seventh in both total yards and points scored during that season.
2023 obviously was a bit more shaky for the offense, but injuries to the squad cannot be overlooked when discussing the team’s struggles. The Vikings lost Justin Jefferson for seven games (and still managed to go on a five-game winning streak without the star) while also dealing with the Achilles injury of Kirk Cousins during Week 8 against the Green Bay Packers.
Other contributors like Christian Darrisaw, Alexander Mattison, Brian O’Neill, and K.J. Osborn (among others) also missed time throughout the year, only making the quarterback carousel that much tougher to manage.
This offseason is a big one for the Vikings as they try to rebuild their roster through free agency and the draft. In the end, there is no extension imminent at this point in time, but don’t be surprised if O’Connell gets a new deal to stay in Minnesota for the long-term.
Editor’s Note: Statistics for this article were found via Pro Football Reference.
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Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.