Kevin O’Connell Promises to Put “Gas Pedal Down”
Anything short of huge improvement at quarterback will mean that Kevin O’Connell probably gets axed in 2026. Such are the stakes coming off a very disappointing 2025 for the Minnesota Vikings.
Last week, the Vikings’ skipper chatted with Paul Allen and Pete Bercich. The conversation lasted for close to twenty minutes, covering topics such as Eric Wilson’s free agency and working alongside fill-in GM Rob Brzezinski. Similarly notable is that Coach O’Connell made a reasonably bold promise, reiterating the need to press on the “gas pedal.”
Kevin O’Connell Pressing “Gas” at Quarterback
Yet again, Kevin O’Connell described the need for competition.
Consider how the head coach discussed the matter: “We’ve talked about it. We want [J.J. McCarthy] to be in a competitive situation because of some of that time lost. We’ve really got to push the gas pedal down. And not replace development and coaching and teaching with anything, but really enhance it with a really competitive situation.”
Per O’Connell, the “whole team” will see added value from the QB needing to compete to remain as the starter.
Dig into O’Connell’s words for some good insight on how he’s understanding the situation.
A lot of onlookers believe that the Vikings are adding a veteran to function as the replacement. Not so, says O’Connell. Rather, the incomer(s) — whoever it ends up being — is being grafted onto the roster as a key component of accelerating McCarthy’s growth.
Indeed, the direct competition is meant to force McCarthy into an area of greater urgency. Something about operating in a quarterback room where someone else is very explicitly gunning for the starting position will lead to an environment where McCarthy gets better in a hurry or gets demoted. Either way, the team is going to encounter some benefit.
The No. 10 selection from the 2024 NFL Draft doesn’t lack for talent. McCarthy is a gifted, high-end athlete who can spin the football. Early word about lacking arm strength has proven to be foolish.
What is needed, though, is further refinement to his technique and ability to place the ball with touch. Greater accuracy is as crucial to the 23-year-old passer as wings are to a plane. Just can’t get very far without being able to complete passes.
Likewise, McCarthy needs to stay out of the infirmary. Part of the reason why McCarthy is still raw is due to being hurt so commonly.
If he can throw with touch, complete passes, and stay healthy while overcoming a strong challenger in the QB room, J.J. McCarthy will remain as the QB1 in 2026. Sounds like a lot, but that’s the point: time to elevate, young fella.
Looking back, the Vikings’ worst mistake of 2025 rested in letting J.J. McCarthy march through the offseason without any true competition. Some empty words got passed along about McCarthy needing to earn his starting spot even if everyone could see that Minnesota had no in-house replacement. All of the other passers — Sam Howell, Brett Rypien, and Max Brosmer — failed to turn into legitimate options for Sunday.
The lone exception, Carson Wentz, got added far too late. Even then, Wentz is a nice backup at this point, not a weekly starter who will push for the Lombardi.
Pivoting off that miss means welcoming at least a single strong passer to the mix. Good chance, though, that two passers get added. Minnesota’s quarterback spot needs both a higher floor and ceiling.
Less than a week separates the NFL from the free agency flirtations that commonly get described as a frenzied period. The Vikings, a team that’s seldom dull, promises to be in the middle of the action.
