NFL world reacts to bombshell Vikings trade rumor

Every once in a while, rumors start to surface about teams wanting to trade for a head coach. Entering Week 18, those engines are going.

Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer reported a bombshell: Multiple teams might be targeting Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell this offseason.

O’Connell has led the Vikings to incredible success this year. As a result, the sharks are swimming apparently.

“Sunday scoopage: Surprise candidate on multiple team’s coaching candidates lists: Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell,” Glazer said on X.

Sunday scoopage: surprise candidate on multiple team’s coaching candidates
lists: Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell. He has one year remaining on his deal after the season and a few teams have an interest in possibly trying to TRADE for him. @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/TipEYM6FF6

— Jay Glazer (@JayGlazer) January 5, 2025

“Multiple teams are considering trying to trade for Kevin O’Connell, and the reason why? Next year, the last year of his deal, and no contract talks at all,” he revealed.

Glazer said that O’Connell might have the cards here, and the Vikings might still be able to get a deal done. But there is, apparently, rummaging going on.mFox’s Michael Strahan expressed surprise that he wasn’t locked down already. Hall of Famer Jimmy Johnson expressed that he’d pay any price to get the energetic head coach out of Minnesota.

O’Connell has led the Vikings to two playoff appearances and an NFC North Division Championship in 2022. The Vikings are 14-2 heading into the final day of the season, and the NFC North will be on the line against the Detroit Lions in their final game this evening.

Will this trade happen? Time will tell.

Some scoffed at the idea while others recognized its potential.

This has 0.00% chance of happening. A ridiculous non-story. And Jay can’t even tell us who “the multiple teams” are. You can only laugh at this nonsense. https://t.co/XRJ5pB7KsO

— Don Van Natta Jr. (@DVNJr) January 5, 2025

The Vikings gave matching four-year deals to Kevin O'Connell and Kwesi Adofo-Mensah in 2022. That's put them in a spot where, now, they'll be looking at a steep price to keep him (I'd have redone him after two years, personally).

Good problem to have, for sure. https://t.co/rOJwZPvkjs

— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) January 5, 2025

This is how you know week 18 is a dud lol https://t.co/yrpxaOlIFk

— ThatsGoodSports (@BrandonPerna) January 5, 2025

No way this happens. I question why this would even be reported tbh.

The Vikings would be the dumbest organization in the history of sports to do this. https://t.co/Yqrgovedr8

— Joe Dahlke (@TheJoeDahlke) January 5, 2025

[Jay Glazer]