Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell reacts alongside huge receiver Brandon Powell earlier than kickoff towards New Orleans at U.S. Financial institution Stadium, sharing a light-weight second because the group completes its pregame routine. On Nov. 12, 2023, O’Connell and Powell put together for the matchup whereas Minnesota readies to face the Saints earlier than its residence crowd. Necessary Credit score: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports activities.
The Minnesota Vikings haven’t gained a playoff recreation on Kevin O’Connell’s watch — he’s been in cost for 4 seasons — and until that adjustments, he may very well be the proverbial scorching seat, based on SB Nation‘s Invoice Williamson.
He printed an inventory final week for shock skippers who might face the music after the 2026 marketing campaign, and for higher or worse, O’Connell made the reduce.
Yr 5 Brings a Completely different Commonplace for O’Connell
Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell watches pregame warmups at Lumen Subject, learning his gamers as Seattle prepares for the late-season matchup. On Nov. 30, 2025, O’Connell surveys the sphere earlier than kickoff whereas Minnesota completes its remaining preparations and readies for one more troublesome highway check within the Pacific Northwest that afternoon. Necessary Credit score: Kevin Ng-Imagn Photos.
Williamson: O’Connell Might Be on the Sizzling Seat
On an inventory that included Detroit Lions boss Dan Campbell, Williamson scribed, “O’Connell’s situation is similar to Campbell’s. He is considered an excellent coach and he won the NFL Coach of the Year award in 2024, but if he fails to lead the Vikings to the playoffs for a second straight year, there could be consequences, especially if the quarterback situation is a mess again.”
“He was hired partly because of his prowess as a quarterback whisperer. If progress isn’t made, he could be in trouble. Remember, new Minnesota general manager Nolan Teasley doesn’t have ties to O’Connell, so he must prove himself in 2026.”
David Canales (Carolina Panthers), DeMeco Ryans (Houston Texans), and Dan Quinn (Washington Commanders) additionally made the reduce for fringe hot-seat contenders.
The Logic Is Not Horrible
Whereas most Vikings followers exalt O’Connell as an exquisite head coach — he has the NFL’s fifth-best successful proportion on his watch — Williamson’s classification of the recent seat just isn’t outrageous.
For instance, how for much longer would the Vikings’ possession group and new common supervisor Nolan Teasley permit O’Connell to stay round with no playoff win? The clock has reached 4 years. Is it 5 years? Six? Or — the 12 months is 2028, and the Vikings haven’t gained a postseason recreation with O’Connell in cost. Does the person simply have untouchable job safety?
Within the final a number of many years, these coaches, like O’Connell, have entered Yr No. 5 with no playoff win:
Jack Del Rio (Jaguars)
Jeff Fisher (Titans)
Dennis Inexperienced (Vikings)
Dick Jauron (Bears)
Marvin Lewis (Bengals)
Kevin O’Connell (Vikings)
Dan Reeves (Broncos)
Jim Schwartz (Lions)
David Shula (Bengals)
Norv Turner (Commanders)
Dave Wannstedt (Bears)
Sam Wyche (Bengals)
None in the end gained a Tremendous Bowl, although Wyche and the Bengals reached the large recreation in 1988.
Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell stands on the sphere earlier than going through Dallas at AT&T Stadium, taking within the scene as gamers full their pregame work. On Dec. 14, 2025, O’Connell watches warmups and prepares for kickoff whereas Minnesota will get prepared for a prime-time highway matchup towards the Cowboys in Arlington. Necessary Credit score: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Photos.
The Viking Age‘s Chris Schad famous final month, “It appears that O’Connell’s job isn’t in jeopardy. O’Connell has a 43-25 record and won an NFC North title since being hired by the Vikings in 2022, but he’s the only head coach in the division without a playoff win.”
“It’s also fair to note that Hall of Famer Tony Dungy and future Hall of Famer Andy Reid have been fired for the worst track records in the playoffs. But it feels like the Vikings are invested in O’Connell the same way the Cincinnati Bengals were invested in Marvin Lewis, who coached the team for 16 seasons without a playoff victory from 2003 to 2018.”
Chance of a Poor Season Is Low
Fortunately for O’Connell, his roster is in first rate form to finish the drought. His protection ranked third general in 2025 per DVOA and EPA/Play. The unit misplaced Jonathan Greenard through commerce in April however welcomed newcomers like Caleb Banks (DT), Domonique Orange (DT), Jake Golday (LB), Jakobe Thomas (S), and James Pierre (CB). As a result of Brian Flores stays the defensive coordinator, the protection ought to be in good condition and might be adequate to win a Tremendous Bowl, as long as the offense does its half.
On that notice, the Vikings signed two primary free brokers for O’Connell’s facet of the ball: quarterback Kyler Murray and huge receiver Jauan Jennings. In 2025, the offense was doomed by poor and inconsistent quarterback play; the working principle heading into 2026 is that Murray will present a brand new degree of manufacturing and stability.
The one factor that may absolutely get O’Connell fired in 2026 could be a horrible season, similar to 3-14 or 4-13. On the roster’s present degree, these eventualities are unlikely.
Simply Win, Child
That is “easy” for O’Connell to repair. Simply win a rattling playoff recreation. It’s not difficult.
Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell watches first-half motion towards Tennessee from the sideline at Nissan Stadium, monitoring the offense because the preseason matchup develops. On Aug. 22, 2025, O’Connell research the sphere whereas Minnesota evaluates its roster and works by one other necessary tune-up earlier than the common season begins that summer time. Necessary Credit score: Steve Roberts-Imagn Photos.
O’Connell has reached the postseason twice — his first season and in 2024. It’s time to take the subsequent step. A single playoff win would change the narrative on O’Connell’s outlook, as it will present progress and a step in the fitting course. For instance, Mike Zimmer gained a postseason recreation in 2019, and that arguably purchased him two extra seasons because the skipper.
Now, O’Connell wants that.
The 40-year-old might not be explicitly on the recent seat coming into 2026, but when his group misses the postseason event or will get clobbered within the Wildcard Spherical, Williamson is right that hot-seat chatter could be inevitable.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … Extra about Dustin Baker
