The Minnesota Vikings ended the 2024–25 season with a 14–3 record, finishing second in the National Football Conference Northern Division (NFC North). Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell led the Vikings to success in more ways than just winning. On Feb. 6, O’Connell received the 2024 AP NFL Coach of the Year award at the NFL Honors in New Orleans. “All of his players love playing for him, and he always has them motivated and ready to play on game day… He is a great offensive play caller who consistently leads one of the top offences in the league,” sophomore Alexander Allocco said.
The Associated Press has given the award to NFL coaches since 1957. A 49-person nationwide media panel votes on possible award winners. The panel includes Minnesota Star Tribune’s Mark Craig, former NFL quarterback Tom Brady, and former professional football quarterback Rich Gannon. O’Connell finished with 25 first place votes.
“This is an organizational award. It starts with our owners, Mark and Zygi Wilf. What you guys have provided me [with], the opportunity to be the head coach of your organization, is one of the most special things, and I don’t take it for granted one day,” O’Connell said in his acceptance speech after winning.
A big part of his campaign for the award was his dedication and commitment to helping Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold. “Sam Darnold was not that good of a quarterback a few years ago, and his team managed to improve him a lot over the season,” freshman Kinley Ziegler said. “One of the main reasons this happened was because of [O’Connell’s] coaching.” “The players all seem to love playing for him,” junior and varsity football player Dylan Dubuc said.
The Vikings have had many star players throughout the years. “I’ve been a fan my whole life,” Dubuc said. “I love all the star players that have come through, like J.J. [Justin Jefferson] and Harrison Smith.” Although the Vikings started off with some setbacks like when rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy suffered a torn meniscus during preseason, they still made it to the playoffs. “I was pretty happy with the [2024–25 season]. I was a little disappointed in how we did during the playoffs,” Ziegler said.
Although the season ended in the NFC wild card playoffs against the Los Angeles Rams with a 27–9 loss, the season was still a good one, with help from O’Connell. “He deserved to win it because [the Vikings] exceeded expectations,” Dubuc said. The Vikings this year had an entertaining season overall, with O’Connell calling it a “special year” in his acceptance speech. “This season was one I will always remember. A special football team, they came together in a way that I am so proud of,” he said.
O’Connell finished off his speech by thanking the fans. “Greatest fans in the national football league,” he said. “Can’t wait to see you guys at U.S. Bank Stadium next year. Skol Vikings.”
