The Minnesota Vikings have only had 10 coaches in their storied 62-year history as they have been a team that has seen stability at the position. They also haven’t seen a lot of success from their first-year head coaches. Most of their first-year coaches are coming off the heels of their predecessors getting fired.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell is in that same group. Mike Zimmer struggled massively at the end of his tenure and O’Connell was inheriting somewhat of a mess. Expectations were all over the place across the media and throughout the fanbase and O’Connell has met them in droves.
With his NFC North-clinching 11th win of the season, he tied Dennis Green for the most wins by a Vikings head coach in their first year with the team. What’s even more impressive is that it took O’Connell only 14 games to do so.
The future is bright for the Vikings with O’Connell in charge.
The #Vikings’ win also gives Kevin O’Connell 11 for the season, tying him with Dennis Green for the most by a rookie coach in team history. O’Connell and Green are the only two coaches to win division titles in their first year.
— Ben Goessling (@BenGoessling) December 18, 2022