Vikings' Kevin O'Connell Climbs in NFL Head Coach Rankings After Second Season

The Vikings won 13 games in year one under Kevin O'Connell and just seven in year two, but 2023 was arguably a more impressive coaching job from the 38-year-old. Despite losing Kirk Cousins for the year in Week 8, losing Justin Jefferson for a big chunk of the season, and running up against some inevitable close-game regression, O'Connell helped keep the Vikings in the playoff hunt until the very end.

As a result, Minnesota's head coach jumped seven spots up to No. 12 in the annual head coach rankings from NBC Sports' Patrick Daugherty. Among NFC teams, O'Connell ranks fifth, trailing only Sean McVay, Kyle Shanahan, Matt LaFleur, and Dan Campbell (two of whom happen to reside in his division). Daugherty had plenty of praise for the way O'Connell kept things afloat after Cousins went down, calling him "a coach who figures things out."

It's well-deserved recognition for the job O'Connell did last year and has done since being hired to replace Mike Zimmer two years ago. Even though they're coming off a disappointing season relative to expectations, the Vikings appear to be in good hands with KOC as their head coach. He's created a great culture in the locker room, demonstrated strong leadership traits, and proven himself as a creative and successful offensive mind. O'Connell talking Josh Dobbs through a comeback victory in Atlanta the week after Cousins' injury last year was maybe the most impressive coaching performance of the entire NFL season.

In a few weeks, the Vikings will almost certainly draft a quarterback in the first round for the first time in a decade. It probably brings some comfort to fans that O'Connell will be the one leading the way on that franchise-altering decision.

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