Months ago, many talking heads predicted that the Minnesota Vikings would finish last in the NFC North Division.
They’re now 13-2 and heading to the playoffs.
They even have a chance to take down the Detroit Lions atop the division.
That’s why J.J. McCarthy wanted to show some love to his head coach.
Following their big win over the Seattle Seahawks, he asked X about the requirements to be named Coach of the Year.
What’s the requirements for this Coach of The Year thing again? Asking for a friend
— J.J. McCarthy (@jjmccarthy09) December 23, 2024
Truth be told, O’Connell deserves some strong consideration.
It’s not only that the Vikings have fared much better than anticipated, but also how they’ve done it.
They keep finding ways to win close games, and that’s something championship-caliber teams do.
They’ve won in various ways, whether running the ball or slinging the football down the field.
They’ve won shootouts but also fought hard in the trenches in defensive slugfests.
Also, O’Connell has elevated Sam Darnold’s game to new heights.
Darnold was more of an afterthought or a prime backup, and he’s now considered a legitimate NFL starter.
It’s crazy that some people still don’t consider the Vikings a Super Bowl contender, given their record.
There are just a couple of weeks left in the regular season, and we’ve seen them consistently find success after getting off to a 5-0 start to the season.
It will surely be a tight race, but O’Connell deserves some strong consideration to take the award home at the end of the season.
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