Tag: Kevin O’Connell

Several Vikings receive votes in NFL survey for major awards

Three Vikings earned votes for Player of the Year honors.

As the regular season winds down, playoffs will ramp up, and awards will be handed out. In the latest NFL.com award survey, they asked 27 members — who will remain anonymous — to vote on several different categories to see who might win the awards.

Three different Vikings received votes, and one of them won the award.

Minnesota head coach Kevin O’Connell won Coach of the Year in a landslide. O’Connell ran away with COY voting. He had 16.5 votes, 13.5 votes more than any other coach. With the Vikings outplaying preseason expectations, O’Connell is the popular name to win the award. Quarterback Sam Darnold is having a career year, and plenty thank O’Connell for it.

Two other Vikings received votes in this particular voting.

General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah had two votes for Executive of the Year. Also, Edge rusher Andrew Van Ginkel received one vote for Defensive Player of the Year. With the moves Adofo-Mensah has made and the play of Van Ginkel, it’s not a shock to see them with votes.

A win over the Bears in Week 15 means history for the Vikings

On Monday night, if the Vikings get their second win and sweep the season from the Bears, it would be historic for the team. 

The Minnesota Vikings have been especially dominant over the Chicago Bears in recent years. They won once already this year in a game that got close down the stretch and required the Vikings to pull things out in overtime.

On Monday night, if the Vikings get their second win and sweep the season from the Bears, it would be historic for the team.

Vikings Communications shared on X that the team is set up for a historic four-year run against the Bears with a win on Monday. They explain, “. . . Another Vikings’ win would clinch their third season sweep of the Bears in the last four years. The last time Minnesota swept the season series with the Bears in three of four years was in 1997, 1998 and 2000.”

Winning NFC North games has become a trademark of Kevin O’Connell. A win over the Bears isn’t just another sweep, but it will keep them on a path to a potential NFC North title.

Kevin O’Connell is in rare company winning one-score games

The Vikings head coach has done a good job of winning the close games.

Since Kevin O’Connell took over as head coach, the Vikings have played plenty of one-score games. Just this past weekend, Minnesota went back down to the wire as it usually does. The Vikings defeated the Cardinals by just one point.

Minnesota has already been in eight one-score games this season. Kevin O’Connell has the 3rd-best winning percentage (.727) for one-score games in NFL history (minimum 25 games), per Elias Sports.

Guy Chamberlin: .759 (22-7-7) (coached from 1920-27)
John Madden: .732 (40-14-7)
Kevin O’Connell: .727 (24-9)

The one thing Minnesota fans want to see more of is the Vikings keeping their foot on the pedal. Either the Vikings get out to an early lead before allowing the opposition to get back into the game, or the Vikings stall early and have to make an epic last-minute comeback to win the game.

Hopefully, things are a little easier on Sunday when the struggling Atlanta Falcons come to town. It will be the first time the Vikings have faced Kirk Cousins since leaving Minnesota.

Kevin O’Connell provides injury update on key Vikings player on defense

On Monday, Kevin O’Connell provided an update to Gilmore’s injury against the Cardinals on Sunday. 

The Vikings’ defense has been playing at an all-world level this year under Brian Flores’s guise. Their secondary, especially, has been playing above and beyond this year, in part due to the signing of Stephon Gilmore, which they made before Week 1.

On Monday, Kevin O’Connell provided an update to Gilmore’s injury against the Cardinals on Sunday.

Kevin O’Connell confirmed the injury to be a hamstring injury, which sounds like a less-than-ideal situation. He added that it is a low-grade injury, so it is not believed to be a long-lasting one. The Vikings’ secondary without Gilmore showed some weakness to the Cardinals’ passing attack, but when push came to shove, they bent but never broke.

If Gilmore were to miss any amount of time, it would be on Fabian Moreau and Shaq Griffin to step up as they did on Sunday. The Vikings could also look to UDFA Dwight McGlothern for some depth, but that remains to be seen.

We will have more updates as the weeks go on, especially with the first injury report set to come out on Wednesday.

What will offseason coverage look like for Vikings Wire?

As a Viking fan reading this, you want that team to struggle but it is important to understand their team as much as you do with Minnesota. 

The Minnesota Vikings are having a season that not many expected, especially not here on Vikings Wire. Before the season started, we made a prediction that has proven not to be close to right, and we own that. What we want to do, though, is offer complete coverage for the Vikings and the entire NFC North.

As a Vikings fan reading this, I know you want NFC North teams to struggle, but it is important to understand those teams as much as you do with Minnesota. That means our coverage this offseason is going to be complete.

Let me lay out the talking points and things to look for as we get into December and beyond with this special Vikings team.

Coaching Staff Coverage

Kevin O’Connell isn’t going anywhere, the whole world knows that, but defensive coordinator Brian Flores has earned another chance to be a head coach. Not to be forgotten, look for Wes Phillips to get interviews potentially for the work the offense is doing.

We will cover all those potential interviews, letting you know where they could go if they get a chance. We will also make sure you know everything you need to about any replacements or new additions the coaching staff may have.

Free Agent Coverage

The Vikings have many players who will be free agents in the offseason. The biggest names include Byron Murphy Jr., Stephon Gilmore, Aaron Jones, Sam Darnold, and Camryn Bynum. In all, they have 35 pending free agents, which means this roster could look very different in 2025.

The team only has five draft picks at this point, so free agency should be exciting for them. They are riding a hot hand in that department after finding Andrew Van Ginkel, Jonathan Greenard, and Blake Cashman last cycle, so look for them to be active once again.

NFL Draft Coverage

Now, for this part, some people may check out or stay tuned in. The NFL Draft is the biggest event on the football calendar outside of the Super Bowl. Every team and its fanbase get excited, and the results lead to new hope being eternal for every fanbase.

We will be doing draft reports on the Vikings’ and other teams’ needs in the NFC North. Winning the division has never been a bigger mountain to climb, so keeping tabs on everyone is crucial.

We hope you stay tuned to Vikings Wire, where we will keep you informed about everything related to the team and the NFC North.

Ex-Giants QB Daniel Jones sounds happy, at peace with Vikings

Former New York Giants QB Daniel Jones embarked on a new journey this week and appears to be at peace with the Minnesota Vikings.

Former New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones appeared at the facility of the Minnesota Vikings — the TCO Performance Center in Eagan, Minnesota — on Friday with a fresh attitude after being signed to their practice squad on Wednesday.

Jones, who was cut by New York per his request last Friday, was in a high mood and smiled several times, something he rarely did in a Giants uniform.

“It’s been a crazy last couple weeks but at the end of the day I’m excited, this is an awesome opportunity,” Jones said, via Matthew Coller of The Purple Insider.

Asked why he signed with the Vikings, DJ cited the coaching, specifically head coach Kevin O’Connell, who has been a fan of Jones for years.

“Trying to make the best decision I can right now and I felt like this was here with coach O’Connell,” Jones said. “Offensively, what they’ve been able to do. I think the system, Coach O’Connell, and his staff. Just a lot of good things happening.”

Unlike the Giants, where nothing is going right. They are 2-10 and headed for the first overall pick in the draft. The Vikings are 9-2 and headed toward the NFC Playoffs, another one of the reasons why Jones chose to sign there.

Jones is currently on the practice squad and could elevated at any time but there appears to be a logjam between him and starter Sam Darnold with backups Nick Mullens and Brett Rypien also waiting in the wings.

Jones knows he has some homework to do before working his way into a prominent role.

“It’s on me to catch up, take the time outside of meetings, and practice to learn it. That’s what I will do,” he said.

The Vikings are aware that Darnold, although having his best season as a pro, has only played 13 games in a season. This is Week 13. They saw Jones as an insurance policy, at least for the remainder of this year.

Minnesota drafted Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft (10th overall) but he tore his meniscus in the preseason opener and is out for the season.

McCarthy may not be ready for next season but the Vikes now have one of the NFL’s top quarterback rooms with the addition of Jones, should he stay.

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Kevin O’Connell stands atop the 2022 NFL head coach class

On Sunday, during their NFL broadcast, the NFL on CBS shared a graphic showcasing all the coaching hires from that cycle.

New NFL head coaches are hired every year, and they come into the fold bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. They expect to turn their new teams around immediately, and while some do find success, others do not. In 2022, we saw a whopping 10 new head coaches hired.

Kevin O’Connell is head and shoulders above the rest despite all the competition.

On Sunday, during their NFL broadcast, the NFL on CBS shared a graphic showcasing all the coaching hires from that cycle. Of the 10 hires, Dennis Allen, Nathaniel Hackett, Lovie Smith, and Josh McDaniels have already been fired. Three other hires from the cycle, Brian Daboll, Doug Pederson, and Matt Eberflus are on hot seats and could be fired this season of after the season.

Of the successful coaches, Todd Bowles, Mike McDaniel, and O’Connell, Minnesota’s hire stands above the rest. His winning percentage of .628 and 27 overall wins have him pacing well above his classmates.

This should make Vikings fans realize just how good they got it when they hired the former NFL quarterback turned offensive coordinator.

WATCH: Jordan Addison gets the scoring started for the Vikings in Week 11

Despite the early coverage by the Titans, the Vikings still found a way to break through in the first quarter.

The Minnesota Vikings knew they had their work cut out for them against a tough Titans defense. Despite the Titans’ early coverage, the Vikings still found a way to break through in the first quarter.

The Titans opened the scoring with a field goal, but the Vikings were the first to score a touchdown, courtesy of Jordan Addison.

The second-year wide receiver was able to find a hole in the coverage and then used his speed and vision to break off a 47-yard touchdown. The play would not have been possible if Sam Darnold had not stayed in the pocket and delivered a dart of a pass with the pocket collapsing.

The touchdown catch was the 13th of his career and helped him become move up the touchdown rankings within a player’s first two seasons. Leading that stat with 28 is former Viking wide receiver Randy Moss.

 

The Athletic reports that Vikings HC Kevin O’Connell does not use game scripts

Most coaches use a script to call the first drive of the game, but Vikings’ Kevin O’Connell isn’t one of those coaches.

In football, you typically have a week to gameplan for the upcoming opponent, which means most teams have a scripted drive they plan on calling on offense. However, according to Alec Lewis with The Athletic, Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell is not one of those coaches. Lewis says O’Connell calls plays on the fly and makes adjustments when needed.

“Let’s set straight a misunderstanding about Kevin O’Connell’s play calling: The Minnesota Vikings coach does not call plays from a script. Some NFL coaches do, especially early in games. They spend ungodly time brainstorming the correct way to unveil their plan. In a sense, O’Connell is similar. There are plays he prefers over others, some of which he knows he will call in the first quarter. But it is never definite and is always adaptable on the fly.“

That’s eye-opening because, as we said above, most coaches do have some sort of script they call plays off of for at least the game’s opening drive. But the Vikings’ young, innovative coach is not one of those play callers.

Vikings rookie J.J. McCarthy undergoes second procedure on injured knee

Fast forward a few months and in the middle of his rehab, McCarthy is undergoing another surgery.

The Minnesota Vikings lost rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy to a torn meniscus early in the preseason. Everyone thought he was going to be playing sooner rather than later but those plans were sidelined.

Fast forward a few months following his initial injury, and in the middle of his rehab, McCarthy is undergoing another surgery on his meniscus.

Kevin Seifert of ESPN was the first to report the surgery and provided the details. According to Seifert, McCarthy started to experience swelling in his surgically repaired knee while rehabbing. He received a biologic injection, and his timetable to return should not be extended.

Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell spoke to the media on Wednesday about McCarthy and his knee and provided further comment. His answer to that question and more can be found below.