Kevin O’Connell and the Minnesota Vikings have ended the speculations about the head coach getting traded. Instead, both parties have agreed to a multi-year contract extension. O’Connell joined the Vikings after helping the Los Angeles Rams win Super Bowl LVI as offensive coordinator.
Through his first three seasons with the Vikings, O’Connell has a 34-17 regular season record, including two seasons with at least 13 victories. However, he hasn’t enjoyed playoff success with Minnesota, losing two Wild Card Round games.
In a statement published on the Vikings’ official website, O’Connell said about the extension:
"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.”
While the Vikings finished with a 14-3 record this season, they dropped to the fifth seed in the NFC playoffs after losing their regular season finale against the Detroit Lions. O’Connell and the Vikings lost to his former team, the Rams, to end a promising season.
-Lance Fernandez