ESPN Gives Vikings High Marks for O’Connell Hire

Both pundits also offered their takes about what O’Connell will bring to the Vikings, who have missed the playoffs in back-to-back seasons and haven’t been above .500 since the end of the 2019 season.

O’Connell, 36, was considered the most impressive candidate from the first round of interviews, and he kept up his momentum during the in-person interview. So, really, after the Jim Harbaugh theatrics, the Vikings search landed where it started. O’Connell’s knowledge of the Vikings scheme, personnel and his overall presence impressed the team. He came across as well-prepared, with an answer for everything thrown their way. The Vikings wanted a young, up-and-coming coach. They feel that way about O’Connell, who has the right demeanor for the job.

Yeah, O’Connell’s name is one we’ve heard a bunch in recent years as an up-and-comer, and being the Rams offensive coordinator under Sean McVay sure isn’t a bad way to go if you want to become a head coach. O’Connell will be the fourth former McVay assistant to be a head coach in the NFL, joining the Packers Matt LaFleur, the Bengals Zac Taylor and the Chargers Brandon Staley. Staley just went 9-8 in his first year as coach of the Chargers, LaFleur has won more games (39) in his first three seasons than any coach in [NFL] history, and Taylor just took the Bengals to the Super Bowl (against McVay). What’s even more amazing is that the 36-year-old McVay is still younger than all of these guys.

Fowler and Graziano graded all nine NFL head coaching hires.

Although O’Connell was the last to be officially announced, he was among the head coaches who received the highest marks as he begins this new journey with the Vikings.