The Minnesota Vikings finished the 2024 season with 14 wins, but their campaign ended on a sour note with two heavy losses, raising many questions. Head coach Kevin O’Connell and the Vikings were eliminated in the wild card round by the Los Angeles Rams, prompting an offseason of uncertainty.
O’Connell and general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah are entering the final year of their four-year contracts, with team president Mark Wilf opting to delay extension talks until after the regular season. Under O’Connell, the Vikings have a 34-17 regular-season record over three years, though they’ve yet to win a playoff game, going 0-2 in the postseason. Despite this, O’Connell is considered a candidate for NFL Coach of the Year. Wilf expressed confidence in the leadership of O’Connell and Adofo-Mensah, dismissing reports of potential trade interest from other teams.
O’Connell expressed his commitment to Minnesota, stating that he wants to continue coaching and leading the team. He and quarterbacks coach Josh McCown were credited with helping Sam Darnold, who joined on a one-year deal after Kirk Cousins left for the Atlanta Falcons. Darnold, the No. 3 pick in the 2020 draft, posted career highs with 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns, leading the Vikings to 14 wins. However, O’Connell acknowledged that Darnold, like the rest of the team, could have performed better in the playoff loss, taking responsibility for both coaching and team performance.
Darnold, 27, may not be the long-term answer at quarterback for Minnesota, especially considering his contract situation. The Vikings drafted Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy in the 2024 draft with the 10th overall pick, though McCarthy spent the season on injured reserve after knee surgery. O’Connell had indicated in December that the team wanted Darnold to return, but after disappointing losses to the Detroit Lions and Rams, Darnold knows the focus will be on how the season ended. In the playoff loss, Darnold completed 25 of 40 passes for 245 yards, one touchdown, one interception, and a fumble, while also being sacked nine times.
All-Pro wide receiver Justin Jefferson expressed confidence in O’Connell and Adofo-Mensah’s ability to find the right quarterback solution. Jefferson said he wasn’t concerned with who the quarterback would be, focusing instead on his own performance and trusting that the coaching staff would make the right decision.
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