Report: Multiple teams have interest in trading for Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell
Head coach Kevin O'Connell of the Minnesota Vikings looks on before the start of the game against the New York Giants at U.S. Bank Stadium on December 24, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings defeated the Giants 27-24. ((Photo by David Berding/Getty Images))
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - The Minnesota Vikings face the Detroit Lions at Ford Field Sunday night in one of the biggest regular season games in franchise history.
What’s at stake? The winner takes the NFC North Division title, the No. 1 seed, gets a first round bye and home field advantage in the playoffs until the Super Bowl. If the Vikings lose, they fall to the No. 5 seed and will hit the road next weekend for the NFC Wild Card Playoffs.
Kevin O’Connell trade rumors?
What’s being reported: According to NFL insider Jay Glazer, multiple teams will have interest in trying to trade for Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell after the season. The Monday after the final week of the regular season is typically when coaches on the hot seat get fired.
Trades for head coaches are unusual, but they’re not impossible. It depends on what the price is to see if the Vikings would actually move him. He’s highly-respected among players, the front office and the Vikings’ ownership group. Vikings owner Mark Wilf said during the offseason his team would wait until after this season to evaluate O'Connell. By all accounts, O'Connell loves being in Minnesota.
KOC entering final year of contract
Why it matters: O’Connell replaced Mike Zimmer as head coach after the 2021 season, coming off winning the Super Bowl as the L.A. Rams offensive coordinator with Sean McVay. He led the Vikings to a 13-5 record in his first year, winning the NFC North title. The Vikings went 7-10 last year and missed the playoffs. This year, they’re 14-2, have won nine straight and need a win Sunday night to get their second division title in O’Connell’s three seasons.
He’s under contract through the 2025 season, and you can bet that the front office wants to work out a new deal to keep him in Minnesota. O’Connell is 34-17 as the Vikings’ head coach, and is one of the favorites for NFL Coach of the Year.
Pat Jones II among Vikings inactives
What we know: There were no surprises when the Vikings announced their inactives 90 minutes before kickoff. Edge rusher Pat Jones II will not play after he suffered a knee injury against the Packers on a low hit from Tucker Kraft. Jones has seven sacks on the season. The other inactives are Brett Rypien, who will be the emergency No. 3 quarterback, Fabian Moreau, Calvin Munson, Levi Drake Rodriguez, Dan Feeney and Walter Rouse.
Sunday night's Vikings/Lions loser will be the No. 5 seed in the NFC Playoffs and will face the L.A. Rams, who got the No. 4 seed after losing to the Seahawks on Sunday. The Vikings lost to the Rams back in Week 8 on Thursday Night Football.