Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell smiles throughout Day 3 of minicamp at TCO Efficiency Middle because the staff works by offseason follow contained in the Eagan facility. On June 11, 2026, O’Connell noticed summer season reps and quarterback-room growth whereas guiding Minnesota by one other stage of preparation earlier than coaching camp arrived later that offseason. Obligatory Credit score: YouTube.
The Minnesota Vikings are in a drought, and though it’s possible you’ll really feel it, it’s possible you’ll not know the drought’s parameters. The final time the membership received a playoff recreation was seven years in the past — the day that Kirk Cousins delivered an extra time landing move to Kyle Rudolph, strolling off the New Orleans Saints on the highway.
Since then, Minnesota has visited the postseason twice and received nothing.
O’Connell’s January Take a look at Is Now Unimaginable to Ignore
Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell warms up with the staff at U.S. Financial institution Stadium earlier than a house matchup in opposition to Cincinnati, staying energetic as gamers transfer by pregame work. On Sep. 21, 2025, O’Connell joined the Vikings on the sphere whereas Minnesota ready for an additional early-season take a look at in entrance of its house crowd. Obligatory Credit score: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Pictures.
Defining the Drought
Bear in mind the yr Minnesota drafted Garrett Bradbury? How about Irv Smith Jr. or Alexander Mattison? That was the time it received within the postseason. Right here’s the drought by the numbers.
Vikings’ Longest Droughts,with no Playoff Win,Franchise Historical past:
1) 3,288 Days (1988-1997)2) 3,031 (1961-1969)3) 2,920 Days (2009-2017)4) 2,376 Days (Now)5) 2,213 Days (1976-1982)6) 1,834 Days (2004-2009)
The Vikings got here considerably near a playoff dub in 2022 however in the end misplaced at house to Daniel Jones and the New York Giants.
Vikings By no means Have ‘Bad’ Seasons Anymore
Why does the dearth of playoff wins in Minnesota since 2019 not really feel like an utter outrage? Nicely, the Vikings aren’t fairly precisely backside feeders just like the New York Jets or the Arizona Cardinals as of late. They’re at all times related, proper there within the combine for the postseason. Even when the purple staff teeters getting ready to a misplaced season, it finds a solution to salvage the marketing campaign by making it attention-grabbing, normally by tallying a minimum of seven wins.
The truth is, the Vikings haven’t accomplished a season with lower than seven wins since 2013 — the tip of the Christian Ponder experiment.
There’s additionally the every-other-year concept in play. Take a look:
2014 Vikings: Common
2015 Vikings: Good
2016 Vikings: Common
2017 Vikings: Good
2018 Vikings: Common
2019 Vikings: Good
2020 Vikings: Common
2021 Vikings: Common
2022 Vikings: Good
2023 Vikings: Common
2024 Vikings: Good
2025 Vikings: Common
Apart from 2020 and 2021, Minnesota reaches the postseason each two seasons. It by no means dips too low.
Possibilities This Yr?
When you belief Vegas’s opinion, the Vikings have a 38% likelihood of reaching the dance in 2026. Their moneyline is -166.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray speaks with reporters after minicamp follow at TCO Efficiency Middle, discussing his work with quarterbacks coach Josh McCown and his transition into Kevin O’Connell’s offense. On June 9, 2026, Murray supplied perception into his early progress, consolation degree, and rising command inside Minnesota’s reshaped quarterback room that summer season. Obligatory Credit score: YouTube.
The staff will showcase both Kyler Murray or J.J. McCarthy at quarterback, and from there, the league’s third-best protection per DVOA and EPA/Play will assist an offense that accommodates names like Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Jauan Jennings, T.J. Hockenson, Aaron Jones, and Jordan Mason.
All of the roster items are intact for a playoff run. The Vikings should conquer two hurdles:
1 | The quarterback should play effectively — or a minimum of higher than final yr when the combo of McCarthy, Carson Wentz, and Max Brosmer held the staff again. That accountability figures to fall on Murray.
2 | The NFC North doesn’t have any buffoonish groups anymore. From prime to backside, the Inexperienced Bay Packers, Detroit Lions, and Chicago Bears will push for the postseason, and in reality, it is going to be bizarre for one or two of these groups to not make it.
USA Right now‘s Jack McKessy not too long ago famous on the NFC North, “All four teams also have reason to believe they’ll be even better in 2026. Chicago added key defensive players, and quarterback Caleb Williams will get another year to progress under head coach Ben Johnson.”
“Detroit has a new offensive coordinator after struggling to match the (Ben) Johnson era of scoring prowess under John Morton. The Packers will have a fully healthy Micah Parsons back after the star edge rusher’s knee injury correlated with Green Bay’s four-game losing streak to end the season.”
Scorching Seat if Not?
January is when NFL teaching resumes really face scrutiny, and for O’Connell, his postseason efficiency stays a priority. Past the postseason, O’Connell’s document is basically spectacular. He earned NFL Coach of the Yr honors in 2024, and his profitable proportion since 2022 ranks fifth within the league.
His groups additionally exemplify strategic play. Minnesota’s protection leads the NFL in EPA/play throughout his tenure, and the Vikings have incurred the sixth-fewest penalties. Sure, that signifies a well-disciplined and intelligently coached staff.
Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell speaks with proprietor Ziggy Wilf throughout coaching camp at TCO Stadium because the group works by preseason preparation in Eagan. On Aug. 3, 2023, the dialog captured a behind-the-scenes second between staff management throughout an vital stretch of roster analysis and planning earlier than the common season. Obligatory Credit score: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports activities.
Supporters usually spotlight the staff’s success when O’Connell has a wholesome beginning quarterback, boasting a 37-15 document in such situations. First rate quarterback play interprets to optimistic outcomes.
Nonetheless, challenges have arisen from the staff’s draft document. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s draft misses have created large roster gaps that O’Connell’s teaching alone has struggled to beat.
Nonetheless, the staff tradition is established, and a powerful common season efficiency has turn out to be the expectation. The subsequent apparent hurdle is to realize postseason success. Whereas O’Connell will not be underneath speedy stress, a season of heavy losses might shortly intensify scrutiny and result in the recent seat.
The drought should finish.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … Extra about Dustin Baker
