The 2022 season started promising and ultimately ended up being a disappointing one for head coach Kevin O’Connell and the Minnesota Vikings. A regular season that saw them go 13-4 and earn the No. 2 seed in the NFC abruptly ended with a tough Wild Card round exit brought on by the New York Giants.
This is a good Vikings team with quality pieces in place to compete with anyone in the NFL, but for the head coach and veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins, the time has never been more win-now for the Vikings as the roster is set to produce.
Kevin O’Connell and the Minnesota Vikings Hope To Take Next Step
Despite being a quality NFL quarterback who has had great performances in his career, the conversations around Cousins are of his shortcomings. With the help of O’Connell, Minnesota hopes that Cousins and company are able to take the Vikings to the next level and sustain a deep playoff run that can quiet all the critics.
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It may not be a fair narrative for Cousins and the team, but perception is oftentimes reality, and until Cousins and the team can produce in the playoffs, there will always be whispers of doubt around them.
Who Was the Head Coach Before O’Connell?
The Vikings head coach before O’Connell was Mike Zimmer. Zimmer was Minnesota’s head coach for eight years from 2014 to 2021. The Vikings made it to the playoffs three times during his tenure and had a 2-3 playoff record in that time frame.
What Is O’Connell’s Record With the Minnesota Vikings?
Last season was O’Connell’s first season as a head coach in the NFL, and while the playoffs were underwhelming, his first regular season at the helm of a franchise was an impressive one, finishing 13-4.
Ultimately, players and coaches are judged by playoff success, and without it, you cannot be viewed in the upper echelon of the league. O’Connell has laid the foundation in Minnesota, and the team looks ready to compete in 2023. It will just be about execution in the new year.
Has O’Connell Ever Won a Super Bowl?
O’Connell has never won a Super Bowl as a head coach but has one championship under his belt as the offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams.
O’Connell’s performance as an offensive coordinator with the Rams is what won him the chance to be the head guy in Minnesota, and he seems to be a bright young star in the coaching world.
