Sep 8, 2024; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell seems on earlier than the sport in opposition to the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium. Obligatory Credit score: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Photos.
Final yr, the plan concerned constructing a Vikings roster so formidable that J.J. McCarthy didn’t should be Superman. Actually, there was even some chatter about merely wanting a sport supervisor.
Minnesota is pivoting towards a brand new technique.
Whoever goes to begin in 2026 must be an “elevator.” Such is the will from head coach Kevin O’Connell. The skipper appeared alongside GM Nolan Teasley — recent off a slobberknocker of a deal for Brian O’Neill — to talk about what’s coming in coaching camp. Coach O’Connell needs a passer who’s going to make his teammates higher fairly than insisting on the teammates making the quarterback higher.
Kevin O’Connell Desires an “Elevator” at QB
Conveniently, the Vikings’ social media crew reduce up the presser in a method that makes issues fairly neat and tidy. Have a look at what the coach needed to say:
“We want an elevator at the quarterback position. In many ways, doing that in this system is kind of a do-your-job mentality, which is running the show, throwing completions and just showing the ability to execute our offense with comfort.” – Head Coach Kevin O’Connell pic.twitter.com/QTiXVu5MPd
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) July 28, 2026
In a number of methods, Kevin O’Connell is asking for one thing that’s fairly easy. In spite of everything, he distills the job of an “elevator” right down to being anyone who can really feel snug within the scheme (albeit an evolving, dynamic scheme). There’s a must distribute the ball, doing so in a fashion that’s related to some extent guard in basketball. Maintain issues easy by getting the ball to the playmakers to do harm, as Kirk Cousins used to say.
Nov 13, 2022; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) will get instrucyion from head coach Kevin O’Connell within the first quarter sport in opposition to the Buffalo Payments at Highmark Stadium. Obligatory Credit score: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports activities.
O’Connell has for years mentioned the necessity to full passes. Sounds primary, after all, and but there’s a cause why he goes to such nice lengths to emphasise that time. But once more, he’s doing so by explaining that he needs his starter to simply full passes.
Placing issues in baseball phrases would imply saying that the beginning pitcher can throw the ball for strikes. O’Connell’s focus isn’t on whether or not the pitcher prefers a 4-seam fastball over a 2-seam fastball. Neither is O’Connell asking for an ideal curve ball, slider, or changeup, at the very least not on this specific response. As an alternative, he needs anyone who can find his pitch.
Final yr, that primary means was missing.
J.J. McCarthy was usually put able to fail. Nonetheless, the child wasn’t near ok. His debut season as a starter — simply ten video games as a consequence of three separate accidents — concerned finishing a stunningly poor 57.6% of his passes. Do observe, although, that NFL Subsequent Gen Stats insists that his anticipated completion proportion was a more healthy 61.8%.
Presently, Kyler Murray is nearly definitely a greater quarterback than McCarthy. A key caveat is that we’re contemplating actual human beings; they’re dynamic, that means they’ll be getting higher or worse within the coming weeks. Who proves higher when it’s time to make a name on who’s going to begin in Week 1?
Dec 14, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) slaps fingers with Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell after a made area purpose in opposition to the Dallas Cowboys throughout the second half at AT&T Stadium. Obligatory Credit score: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Photos
Of observe inside Kevin O’Connell’s response is that he’s understanding the problem in a contextual method. He needs the perfect passer for inside his scheme.
In different phrases, the accuracy and accomplished passes that O’Connell covets isn’t going to be measured in some type of weird, Professional Bowl type throwing contest. Slightly, the profitable combatant on this quarterback battle must be the purpose guard in O’Connell’s scheme.
O’Connell goes into his fifth season because the Vikings’ head coach. Good likelihood, of us, that he hasn’t decided that’s weightier than the choice he must make within the coming weeks for who will start the 2026 season because the beginning quarterback.
Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. E mail: okay.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.
