Kevin O’Connell made himself clear on Thursday afternoon at TCO Performance Center. Asked if he wants to sign a contract extension to remain the head coach of the Vikings moving forward, O’Connell replied, “I do.”
In the same breath, O’Connell confirmed that he’s had conversations with ownership this week, adding he’d prefer to keep the details of those discussions behind closed doors. It marked the first time O’Connell has talked to reporters since the Vikings bowed out of the playoffs Monday with a loss the Los Angeles Rams.
The backdrop of O’Connell expressing interest in staying with the Vikings long term is the fact he currently doesn’t have job security beyond next season.
The rumors of growing tension that a deal has not yet been finalized started with a report from Fox Sports insider Jay Glazer a couple of weeks ago, which suggested some teams might be interested in trying to acquire O’Connell via a trade during this hiring cycle.
Notably, O’Connell addressed that report last week by reaffirming his commitment to the the Vikings, saying, “This is where I want to be.”
Truthfully, the fact that the Vikings hadn’t had conversations with O’Connell until this week falls in line with the plan co owner Mark Wilf laid out last summer. After confirming that the Vikings wouldn’t be offering contract extensions to O’Connell, or to general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, Wilf said they would plan to table everything until after this season.
“We’ll judge it like we’ve always done,” Wilf said at the time. “We’ll evaluate the full body of work for everybody.”
The body of work now speaks for itself.
After being hired in February 2022, O’Connell has compiled a 34-17 record with the Vikings, while establishing a culture that he so often flaunts as a difference maker. O’Connell is the heavy favorite to be named NFL Coach of the Year. He also has yet to win a playoff game, twice getting bounced in the first round.
“I’m proud of the job we’ve done,” O’Connell said before acknowledging his own shortcomings. “We have not gotten to the place we want to get to yet. We’ve done a lot of things to build that foundation. Now we must build upon that to go continue to do the things that it takes to win a world championship.”
The other part of the equation is Adofo-Mensah.
After being hired in January 2022, Adofo-Mensah played a role in hiring O’Connell, and he’s more or less been connected at the hip with the coach ever since as they have built this roster via a collaborative approach.
“We’ve laid the foundation for a really competitive, sustained team,” Adofo-Mensah said. “We’ve got a lot of guys who are smart, tough and love football, and I think we can build and do a lot of great things with a group like that.”
Though he doesn’t have any job security beyond next season at the moment, Adofo-Mensah said he doesn’t feel like he’s entitled to anything, adding that his singular focus is on improving the Vikings.
“Just trying to always earn it,” Adofo-Mensah said. “You’ve got to have that mindset.”
The same goes for O’Connell as he tries to get the Vikings over the hump. He understands the lofty expectations that exist in his current role, and he’s looking forward to the challenge of finally bringing a Super Bowl to Minnesota.
“I would hope that our fans continue to hold us to that standard, because that means they believe in us and they believe what we’re capable of,” O’Connell said. “Now it’s on us to see that through.”
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