I like Kevin O’Connell. I think he is a decent to pretty good head coach and I don’t think the Vikings should have any regrets yet for hiring him after letting Mike Zimmer go in 2021. There have been more good moments than bad moments during his tenure in my opinion, and his 43-27 overall record to this point is pretty good.
But there are a couple red flags to this point that are hard to ignore.
He Has Yet To Win A Playoff Game
The Vikings have had two special regular seasons under KOC. Notice how I said “regular seasons” and not “seasons” or “playoffs” because the Vikings were one-and-done in the playoffs in each of those seasons. Kevin O’Connell has a playoff record of 0-2, and the argument can certainly be made that the Vikings should have won each of those playoff games. In 2022 the Vikings lost at home to Daniel Jones, Brian Daboll, and the New York Giants. The same Brian Daboll who has a career head coaching record of 21-41-1. The same Daniel Jones who’s record as starting QB with the Giants was 24-44-1. The Vikings were 13-4 in 2022 and lost to a 9-7-1 Giants team at home. Inexcusable in my opinion. And who can forget that memorable Kirk Cousins fourth-down check down with the game and season on the line??
And then in 2024 the 14-3 Vikings lose to the 10-7 Rams in Arizona, and honestly never looked like they stood a chance in that game. They were down 24-3 at halftime and just looked inept and not ready to play. I don’t know if Sam Darnold was so rattled after his performance in Detroit the week before or what, but it just didn’t look like anything changed offensively after that Detroit game. Sam Darnold looked lost and it doesn’t help that he was sacked nine(!!) times by the Rams.
So it boggles my mind that a lot of the league views KOC with such affinity, as if he’s one of the ten best coaches in the league, yet has an 0-2 playoff record and was favored in both games. I’m not sure the 2022 team was primed for a Super Bowl run with that vaunted Ed Donatell defense, but they should have beat the Giants at minimum. The 2024 team led by Darnold should have at least been more competitive against the Rams. No excuse to get walloped like that.
The Quarterback Play Hasn’t Been As Good As Everyone Thinks
I’m questioning the quarterback guru title that has been bestowed upon him. Yes, he helped turn Sam Darnold’s career around. Yes, he made Josh Dobbs look like an MVP for like two games in 2023. But look at this list of starting quarterbacks since O’Connell took over:
- Kirk Cousins
- Josh Dobbs
- Nick Mullens
- Jaren Hall
- Sam Darnold
- JJ McCarthy
- Carson Wentz
- Max Brosmer
- Kyler Murray
I know some of that list is due to injury, but I just don’t think quarterback gurus should have nine (and maybe more) starting quarterbacks in five seasons.
And let’s be honest, the JJ McCarthy draft pick has been an absolute disaster to this point. He looked completely lost in many of the games he played in last season. He looked nowhere ready to be an NFL quarterback. Quarterback gurus don’t let that happen to their rookie quarterback.
I don’t think the Vikings make the McCarthy pick in 2024 without KOC’s blessing. He had to have believed that he could develop him into a solid starter, and it’s been anything but that. Even worse- that 2024 quarterback draft class is looking like it could be a special one with Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye and Bo Nix having all made some leaps to this point (and all have won at least one playoff game thus far…). The only other question mark from that draft is Michael Penix Jr. who has been dealing with injuries and likely will be a back up to Too Tagovailoa this season.
What’s At Stake Going Into The 2026 Season?
Like I said earlier, I like KOC and still think he’s a decent head coach. But what will the Wilfs and new GM Nolan Teasley do if the Vikings go, say 7-10 this season? (which I think is very possible). What if they go 11-6 with Kyler as quarterback but get upset again in the Wild Card Round?
It’s not a simple and easy answer as we do need to see how the season plays out, and I do think there is a wide range of outcomes for this upcoming Vikings season. But if it’s another disappointing, under achieving season for the Vikings, I think the discussion should be had as to whether KOC should be back next season.
Plus, the GM has been fired, the starting quarterback has been benched, who else is left as the fall guy??
And I’ll leave you with this stat- 72% of Super Bowl winning coaches won their first Super Bowl within their first four seasons with their team. KOC is going into year five and doesn’t even have a playoff victory.
