The Minnesota Vikings won 14 games this season, but fans and some media members continue to overlook them.
Notably, that’s not the case with Peyton Manning, who recently was asked which playoff coach he’d most like to play for.
“I’m going with Kevin O’Connell,” Manning said, via Kevin Clark of Omaha Productions.
I asked Peyton Manning which coach in these playoffs he'd most want to play for.
"I''m going with Kevin O'Connell."
KOC praise, Vikings praise, Darnold praise ahead of MNF game between the Rams-Vikings. EXCELLENT This Is Football with Peyton today. pic.twitter.com/fMExiu1kt8
— Kevin Clark (@bykevinclark) January 10, 2025
Manning called O’Connell a “dynamic play-caller” and has loved his work leading the Vikings.
Moreover, Manning said O’Connell cares about his players and puts them in a position to maximize their talents.
Now heading into an NFC wild-card playoff game against the Los Angeles Rams, O’Connell is one of the leading candidates to win NFL Coach of the Year.
Not many people expected the Vikings to do this well this season, especially after rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy was lost to a season-ending injury and they had to turn to journeyman Sam Darnold.
O’Connell has done an outstanding job of mentoring Darnold, who had struggled and failed to establish himself in the league in the past.
After letting go of Kirk Cousins, the Vikings turned out to be better this season, despite the fact it’s never easy to move on from a franchise quarterback.
Also, praise means a lot coming from one of the greatest passers of all time, so perhaps people will finally give O’Connell his due now that they’ve heard it from Manning.
NEXT: Vikings Provide Injury Update On Sam Darnold
