The Minnesota Vikings lost Sunday’s winner-take-all NFC North finale against the Detroit Lions to finish the season 14-3 and grab an NFC Wild Card spot instead of winning the NFC North.
While the loss was undoubtedly disappointing for players and fans alike, the Vikings still had one of the best regular seasons in franchise history. The finish marked just the second time Minnesota has ever won 14 or more games in a season.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell was one of the biggest reasons for the team’s success. The third-year coach has two 13+ win seasons in his three years with the team.
The league has taken notice of O’Connell’s success in Minnesota.
Sunday morning, Fox’s Jay Glazer reported that teams with head coaching vacancies were interested in possibly negotiating a trade with Minnesota for the head coach.
By Sunday evening, that speculation had been squashed. A Vikings source told Pro Football Talk, “We love Kevin, and there will be no trade.”
O’Connell’s contract runs through the 2025 season, and he has yet to sign an extension. That fact has unquestionably fueled the rumors, but the Vikings reportedly plan to address O’Connell’s contract status this offseason.
Trading for an active NFL head coach is rare but occasionally happens. Most recently, the Denver Broncos sent a pair of draft picks to the New Orleans Saints for head coach Sean Payton.
O’Connell and the Vikings will take on the Los Angeles Rams on January 13 in the Wild Card Round.
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