Kevin O’Connell’s Bold Move: A Vikings Future on the Line

The 2024 NFL season has been a rollercoaster ride for the Minnesota Vikings, with a promising start followed by a bitter ending. Despite strong individual performances, including a career year for quarterback Sam Darnold, the Vikings’ season ended in disappointment, leaving fans with questions about the future. One key question: What’s next for head coach Kevin O’Connell, who has just one year left on his contract?

Kevin O’Connell’s Future with the Vikings

When asked about his future, O’Connell made it clear he wants to stay with the Vikings. During a recent interview on The Pat McAfee Show, he expressed his desire for a contract extension, citing the strong relationship he shares with the Vikings’ ownership.

“I do,” O’Connell confirmed when asked if he wanted to sign an extension. “I’ve had great dialogue with our ownership, and this week, in reflection as the season came to an end and anything beyond that, I would prefer to kind of keep those discussions internal.”

While he refrained from giving a specific timeline for the extension, O’Connell dismissed rumors of internal tension within the organization, reinforcing his commitment to the team.

“What I would say is I love being the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings,” O’Connell stated. “I love our ownership, I have a great relationship with our ownership. Feel so fortunate, like I said, not only the way they support us and believe in us, but also the impact they have on our players, our locker room, and ultimately where we all want to go together. Feel very, very great about that.”

The Vikings’ Quarterback Dilemma: Sam Darnold’s Future

The quarterback position remains a critical focus for the Vikings as they head into the offseason. Sam Darnold had an impressive 2024 season, completing 66.2% of his passes for 4,319 yards and a 35-12 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Under Darnold’s leadership, the Vikings won 14 games and were close to securing the NFC’s top seed.

However, the season ended on a sour note. In Week 18, the Vikings were blown out by their NFC North rivals, the Detroit Lions, in a game where Darnold struggled. The following week, Darnold failed to rise to the occasion in a postseason loss, taking nine sacks and showing hesitation in his play.

Despite these setbacks, O’Connell praised Darnold’s efforts throughout the season. “Sam should be very proud of what he put together,” O’Connell said. “From start to finish, he answered the bell day in and day out with his preparation. I think he learned a lot about what can be in this league. I think he proved to the whole league that he can play at a winning level at quarterback.”

O’Connell further emphasized the role the coaching staff and teammates played in Darnold’s development. “I’m really proud of Sam for that,” he added. “Everything that took place after that was all systematic process to help him play the best football of his career, which I think he did.”

J.J. McCarthy’s Role in the Vikings’ Future

Complicating the quarterback situation is the presence of J.J. McCarthy, the 2024 first-round draft pick who missed his rookie season due to a knee injury. While McCarthy’s future with the Vikings is uncertain, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah acknowledged the team’s investment in him.

“We brought in two guys who we think can play at a high level at quarterback in this position,” Adofo-Mensah explained. “Obviously, J.J. being a high draft pick is somebody that you’re invested in for the future, and all those different things. How that looks timeline-wise, we didn’t necessarily decide.”

McCarthy appears to be on track for a 2025 return, and while the Vikings are months away from making a decision, they seem open to giving him the opportunity to prove himself as a starter.

The Future of Sam Darnold and the Vikings’ Roster

As for Darnold, Adofo-Mensah spoke about his strong performances, particularly in critical games like victories over Seattle and Green Bay. “There was a lot of games where he was a win-because-of type player,” Adofo-Mensah said. “We got to see Sam play some incredible football for us.”

However, Adofo-Mensah also hinted that the Vikings may be prepared to let Darnold walk in free agency. “We’re going to approach this offseason, and I don’t want to give you the stock answer, everything we do is about, ‘What’s the team around him going to look like?’ Does this piece fit into a whole championship equation?”

It seems the Vikings are evaluating all options, including the possibility of Darnold leaving for more money and a starting opportunity elsewhere.