Kirby Lee-Imagn Pictures.
The NFL performed its annual award ceremony on Thursday night time, three days earlier than Tremendous Bowl LIX.
Vikings Clear Up at NFL Awards Ceremony
The Minnesota Vikings have been handsomely represented, taking dwelling a number of honors and making a memorable night time alongside the best way.
Right here’s the way it went down.
Kevin O’Connell Wins Coach of the 12 months
Brad Rempel-Imagn Pictures.
After frontrunner standing to win the NFL’s Coach of the 12 months award for 2 months, Kevin O’Connell introduced it dwelling.
He staved off Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell by six first-place votes, and for the primary time since 1969, the Vikings have a Coach of the 12 months. Bud Grant was the final man — fairly candy firm.
Right here’s the second:
Jared Allen Is within the Corridor of Fame — Lastly
Kirby Lee-Imagn Pictures.
On his fifth strive — it took too rattling lengthy — Jared Allen is a Corridor of Famer.
Allen had been snubbed in his earlier 4 makes an attempt, an odd circumstance as a result of Allen’s resume for the Corridor of Fame wasn’t controversial. He had the numbers and accolades to again it up.
“It’s a nod to doing it the right way. It’s a reassurance you played it right, so I can look back and say, ‘I played this game my way.’ I tried to honor those before [me], and I did it the right way, and this is the pay off,” Allen informed Vikings.com.
“From a legacy standpoint, it’s great. You’re cemented in football immortality, which is great. Once I get to Canton, it will probably sink in.”
Allen owns the gold jacket perpetually.
The 4 Runner-Ups
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Sam Darnold acquired three late-ballot MVP votes, consider it or not. Josh Allen took dwelling the grand prize.
Justin Jefferson fetched 27 late-ballot Offensive Participant of the 12 months votes, an award he gained two years in the past.
Darnold additionally checked in second for Comeback Participant of the 12 months behind Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow.
And Brian Flores positioned second behind Ben Johnson as Assistant Coach of the 12 months.
The Moments
Kirby Lee-Imagn Pictures.
Justin Jefferson introduced the Comeback Participant of the 12 months award, however his teleprompter went out alongside the best way. The Vikings’ greatest participant recovered properly, nonetheless.
Vikings safeties Camryn Bynum and Josh Metellus additionally broke out right into a dance-off, persevering with their in-season custom for turnovers and touchdowns.
No Snubs
Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Pictures.
One of many most interesting takeaways? Every thing concerning the night from a Vikings perspective was simply.
Darnold didn’t deserve MVP or Comeback Participant of the 12 months, however he was thought of. Saquon Barkley earned OPOY over Justin Jefferson — fairly truthful.
Ben Johnson most likely did extra for the Lions’ offense en path to a Divisional Spherical playoff loss than Flores’ Wildcard exit.
And Jared Allen lastly grabbed HOF kudos.
Purple justice reigned.
The “Controversy”
Kirby Lee-Imagn Pictures.
Talking after the ceremony, Kevin O’Connell informed reporters, “Our goal is to win a championship, and Sam Darnold is going to be a huge part of it when we do it.”
The quote felt like a DJ report scratch, as most Vikings followers are prepared to start out the J.J. McCarthy period.
O’Connell later clarified the assertion: “I don’t necessarily think that was 100 percent accurate. It was in the spirit of answering a question about Sam’s season and what he was able to do this year. And then the follow up in regards to what it’s going to take to win a championship. Look, you guys know how I feel about Sam. He is a guy who we identified last year as someone who could come in and be successful, and really no matter where he was before he arrived, it was about maximizing our time together. And I think we did that.”
He added, “I think it was a very special year for Sam, and what that earned him is that everybody in our league thinks he’s a bonafide, legitimate starting quarterback in our league and can win a lot of football games. He won 14 of them. So, he’s earned the right to be a free agent. But we will continue to have ongoing dialogue and discussions with him and his representation as well as being really excited about J.J. McCarthy, and where he’s at in his rehab.”
O’Connell at all times goes to bat for his quarterback(s). That gained’t change.
The following cease within the offseason? Free company in 4.5 weeks.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the College of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his each day YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The present options visitors, evaluation, and opinion on all issues associated to the purple crew, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates again to 1996. Listed responsible pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doorways (the band). He follows the NBA as intently because the NFL.
All statistics offered by Professional Soccer Reference / Stathead; all contractual info offered by OverTheCap.com.
