The Minnesota Vikings on Sunday responded to the wild trade rumor involving Kevin O’Connell.
FOX NFL reporter Jay Glazer said Sunday that some teams have considered trying to trade for O’Connell, who is entering the final year of his contract. Teams apparently are thinking it’s worth taking a shot and figuring out if the Vikings would consider dealing O’Connell. Minnesota apparently is not interested.
Pro Football Talk founder Mike Florio appeared on “Football Night in America” Sunday ahead of the huge Week 18 Vikings-Lions game. Florio asked a Vikings source about Glazer’s report.
“I was told ‘We love Kevin, and he’s not being traded,'” Florio stated.
That makes sense.
Even if they haven’t signed him to a contract extension yet, why would Minnesota want to let O’Connell go? He went 13-4 in his first season with the team (2022) and won the NFC North. This season, he entered Week 18 with his Vikings 14-2 and tied for the best record in the NFC. Things really couldn’t be going better.
O’Connell and Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah were brought in ahead of the 2022 season and were both given 4-year contracts. They’re in year 3, and it sounds like Minnesota’s ownership would like to continue with both of them.
“We’re looking forward to a great future with [O’Connell and Adofo-Mensah]. We look forward to having those conversations with each of them after the season. We have tremendous confidence, and we look forward to their continued leadership of the franchise,” co-owner Mark Wilf told the Star Tribune.
O’Connell is the favorite to win the NFL Coach of the Year Award. Why would the Vikings want to trade him?
