Life as an NFL head coach oftentimes comes with plenty of blame when things don't go right. When things are going well? Sometimes that same head coach can be overlooked. That's not the case with Minnesota Viking head coach Kevin O'Connell however.
O'Connell, now in his third season at the helm of the Vikings, has the Vikings at 12-2, in the playoffs, and on the cusp on an NFC North title which would be his second (2022). It's clear that players respect - and enjoy - playing under O'Connell who was a quarterback for five season with numerous teams before becoming an assistant coach.
"I think the number one thing, as a leader, any type of leader in any industry is, you've got to be willing to be the first one to say that you were wrong or listen to somebody when they've got suggestions or thoughts," O'Connell explained to WCCO's Chad Hartman this week. "And it doesn't need to be a Super Bowl winning head coach."
But it was a Super Bowl winning coach that helped create the 39-year old Kevin O'Connell that leads Minnesota now. After working his way up to offensive coordinator under what is roundly thought to be one of the league's best offensive minds in the Rams' Sean McVay, O'Connell helped guide that team to a Super Bowl in February, 2022. Later that month, he was head coach of the Vikings.
O'Connell says he's always trying to learn from other coaches, McVay included. But his list of influence and support goes a lot deeper.
"I am very fortunate if you think about my journey up until getting this opportunity in Minnesota," O'Connell told Hartman. "I did get to be around somebody like Sean. I started my career playing for Bill Belichick and learned a lot from those guys. But I think the coolest part since I've gotten this job is I have really developed a relationship with Bill Cowher, with Tony Dungy, two guys that have won Super Bowls. And are willing to take a text message or a phone call and just really pour into the relationship. Because I am really authentically asking those guys for their opinions or their thoughts."
There's another former coach that O'Connell leaned into as well, one that he dearly misses spending time with now.
"I wouldn't discount the first year here that I got a full year with head coach Bud Grant," says O'Connell. That was probably the most impactful dialogue I've had with anybody along my football journey, just because of, not only his presence and what he means to Vikings fans and all folks from Minnesota, but it's more than that. It was his way of being able to, as an older gentleman, to still look at things through my perspective and give me such great advice and nuggets that will stay with me really well beyond my coaching career. Just because of what he meant to me and his willingness to. We had lunch every week. And it was just so incredibly impactful, which was one of the reasons why it was devastating for me when coach passed. I don't take for granted one of those moments that I got to spend with him."
Kevin O'Connell has garnered a reputation as being masterful with the quarterback position, obviously the key position on a football field in the NFL. He got the most possible out of Kirk Cousins in 2022 before Cousins tore his Achilles and signed a free-agent deal with Atlanta. And now he's doing the same with Sam Darnold, a former top NFL Draft pick who has never lived up to that potential. So far in 2024, that's happening and it comes directly from O'Connell's leadership.
"You learn very quickly at this job, you better be on to listen, because you don't have all the answers," O'Connell explained. "I think not only acknowledging that, but then making sure you have great sounding boards out there for you. Great, experienced people that have done this job at a really high level. It's been huge for me and I don't know if I could be sitting in this chair feeling as good as I do about my team or organization, and where we're headed as an organization, without those folks."
SUNDAY GAME PREVIEW
Minnesota (12-2) at Seattle (8-6)
Sunday, 3:05 p.m. (FOX)
BetMGM NFL odds: Vikings by 3.
Series record: Seahawks lead 13-6.
Against the spread: Vikings 9-4-1, Seahawks 6-7-1
Last meeting: The Vikings beat the Seahawks 30-17 on Sept. 26, 2021, at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Last week: Vikings beat Bears 30-12. Seahawks lost to Packers 30-13.
Vikings offense: overall (12), passing (8), rushing (15), scoring (8). Vikings defense: overall (13), passing (29), rushing (2), scoring (4)
Seahawks offense: overall (16), passing (5), rushing (28), scoring (14). Seahawks defense: overall (19), passing (13), rushing (22), scoring (14)
Turnover differential: Vikings plus-8, Seahawks minus-5.
Vikings player to watch
Entering Week 16, LB Jonathan Greenard is fifth in the NFL with 11 sacks and tied for second with four forced fumbles, creating constant havoc in the backfield in an excellent first season with Minnesota. According to Pro Football Focus analysis, Greenard is also third among edge rushers in the league with 66 quarterback pressures. His strip-sack of Caleb Williams in the first quarter against the Bears set up a Vikings touchdown.
Seahawks player to watch
WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba has become the Seahawks main option in the passing game this season, and has led the Seahawks in receiving yards in each of the past seven games. The former Ohio State standout is just 6 yards away from 1,000 yards on the season and ranks sixth in the league in receiving yards.
Key matchup
The Seahawks have shown a bit of improvement in the run game the past two weeks as Zach Charbonnet ran for 134 yards two weeks ago against the Cardinals and scored a 24-yard rushing touchdown against the Packers in place of injured starter Kenneth Walker III (calf). Walker might be back this week, but whichever player gets the majority of the snaps will have to face off against a tough Minnesota run defense that is allowing 89.1 yards per game, the second fewest in the NFL.
Key injuries
Vikings CB Stephon Gilmore (hamstring) has missed the past two games, but is on track to return this week. … RT Brian O’Neill (knee) was in and out of the game against the Bears after getting hurt in the first quarter but is expected to be able to play this week. … Two key backups, CB Fabian Moreau (hip) and DL Jalen Redmond (concussion), were banged up against the Bears and will be evaluated as the week unfolds.
Seahawks QB Geno Smith left Sunday night’s game against Green Bay in the third quarter because of a knee injury. Coach Mike Macdonald said there was no structural damage shown in Smith’s knee, and he is optimistic that Smith will play against the Vikings. … Seahawks center Olu Oluwatimi also left Sunday’s game, and is day to day with a knee/quad injury. … RB Zach Charbonnet sat out Wednesday’s practice with an oblique injury.
Series notes
The first matchup between the Seahawks and Vikings came on Nov. 14, 1976, in Minnesota. The Vikings won 27-21. … Prior to Minnesota’s win in its most recent game against Seattle in 2021, the Seahawks had won seven in a row over the Vikings going back to 2012. … The Seahawks won the only playoff game between the two teams on Jan. 10, 2016, as kicker Blair Walsh missed a field goal in the closing seconds of a NFC wild-card game to give Seattle a 10-9 win.
Stats and stuff
The Vikings are averaging 31.3 points over their past four games. … Vikings QB Sam Darnold has surged past his previous marks and set career highs in wins (12), games started (14), passing yards (3,530) and touchdown passes (29) and is on pace to do the same in these categories: completion rate (67.6 percent), average yards per attempt (8.3) and passer rating (104.9). … RB Aaron Jones has hit 100 total yards from scrimmage in seven of 14 games. … The Vikings have held their opponents scoreless in 21 of 56 quarters this season, the most in the NFL. …The Vikings have at least one takeaway in all 14 games, the only team in the league to do so and the longest streak to start a season in team history since forcing a turnover in all 16 games in 1992. … The Vikings are 12-0 when holding opponents under 30 points. ... Seattle WR DK Metcalf needs one receiving touchdown to pass Steve Largent for the most in a player’s first six seasons in franchise history with 47. … Metcalf ranks first in franchise history through a player’s first six seasons with 429 receptions and 6,172 receiving yards. … WR Tyler Lockett needs two touchdowns to pass Marshawn Lynch for third place on Seattle’s touchdowns list with 67. …QB Geno Smith needs one 300-yard game to tie Russell Wilson for the most 300-yard games in a season in franchise history with five. … Smith ranks in fifth in franchise history in attempts (1,656), completions (1,130), passing yards (12,264) and passing touchdowns (69). … With 6 more yards, WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba would become the 10th receiver in franchise history to have 1,000 receiving yards in a season. … Smith-Njigba needs 16 receptions to set the single-season franchise mark with 101. … The Seahawks’ loss to the Packers on Sunday secured a losing record at home this season for Seattle, just the second time that has happened since 2009.
Fantasy tip
Smith-Njigba has been an offensive force for the Seahawks over the past seven weeks, and could in for a big game this week as he goes against a Vikings pass defense that ranks 29th in the NFL with an average of 245 passing yards allowed per game. If you need some big numbers from a receiver in the fantasy playoffs, Smith-Njigba is a good