Vikings finalizing deal to make Kevin O’Connell next head coach

The Vikings are finalizing a deal to make Kevin O’Connell their next head coach

The Minnesota Vikings are close to making their next head coach official. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the Vikings are finalizing a deal with Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell to be their head coach.

O’Connell has been the Vikings’ top target for weeks but they had to wait until the Rams’ season to end before officially hiring him. They’re expected to introduce him as their coach on Thursday.

O’Connell has been the Rams’ offensive coordinator for the last two seasons. He was also Washington’s OC in 2019 before Sean McVay hired him in 2020.

The Rams will need to replace him on McVay’s staff, and Thomas Brown is a candidate to be promoted into that role.