Kevin O’Connell has made his post-game locker room speeches must-see content for Minnesota Vikings fans since he arrived in 2022. While the speeches are impassioned, O’Connell also gives out game balls to players, further igniting the energy in the room.
A surprise game ball was given out after Sunday’s 27-24 victory over the Seattle Seahawks, improving the Vikings’ record to 13-2. After O’Connell gave out game balls to seven players, Brian O’Neill stood in the middle of the room with his own game ball to present.
“First coach in Vikings franchise history to have two 13-win seasons!” O’Neill said, smiling and tossing the ball to O’Connell. Jonathan Greenard bearhugged O’Connell from behind as the room erupted.
The Vikings have only had four seasons with at least 13 wins in their 64-year history. Dennis Green (15-1, 1998) and Mike Zimmer (13-3, 2017) are the only other coaches to win at least 13 games in a season. Those two seasons ended with the Vikings advancing to the NFC Championship Game.
O’Connell will be looking to improve upon his first 13-4 season that ended in a disappointing 31-24 loss in the Wild Card round to the New York Giants.