Minnesota Vikings Head Coach Kevin O'Connell was mic'd up during minicamp practice during the 2024 offseason programming. The Vikings hired Kevin O'Connell in 2022 after eight seasons of Mike Zimmer from 2014 to 2022.
In 10 weeks, the NFL’s regular season gets underway.
The Minnesota Vikings are on deck to win about seven games, according to oddsmakers, and some consider this campaign a transformation season or flyover year to get to 2025. Minnesota said goodbye to Kirk Cousins in March, while the next few seasons are all about J.J. McCarthy’s development.
So, with 10 weeks to go, these are the 10 things to know about the 2024 Vikings, ranked in no particular order.
It’s unlikely that J.J. McCarthy will start in Week 1 at the New York Giants, but if he does, he’ll be the first Vikings rookie quarterback in franchise history to start out of the gate.
Minnesota usually prefers a veteran — like Sam Darnold — to ease everyone into the festivities.
In 2022, Minnesota’s ground game ranked 27th in the NFL per DVOA, an efficiency metric. Then, during the 2023 offseason, the club swore a fix was on the way. It then finished 27th per DVOA again in 2023.
Thankfully, former Green Bay Packer Aaron Jones is in the house as a potential fix.
Fans want Darnold to guide the ship in 2024, at least initially.
Here’s the stat:
Vikings’ Record under Kevin O’Connell,
Breaking Even or Winning Turnover Battle:
17-0
Vikings’ Record under Kevin O’Connell,
Losing Turnover Battle:
3-14
Justin Jefferson decided to stay in Minnesota for the long haul, and per his contract, his deal and J.J. McCarthy’s expire after the 2028 season.
Vikings football is about how McCarthy and Jefferson jell — with the hope the defense becomes formidable.
The last time Minnesota crushed a team … happened in 2019. The Vikings battered the Los Angeles Chargers, led by Philip Rivers, and then that was that for blowouts.
In fact, Minnesota has scored 40+ points in a game just once in the last five years. For context, the Dallas Cowboys have scored 40+ points 18 times.
Folks panicked about Danielle Hunter’s free agency, which was understandable. Now, however, Minnesota boasts its deepest overall EDGE room in years:
For the first time in five years, the Vikings have no games on holidays like Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, New Year’s, etc.
It’s a change of pace.
The Vikings’ 2024 season will be the first time since 2015-2016 that they’ve rolled in a year with the same head coach, offensive coordinator, and defensive coordinator in consecutive seasons. So, about 8-9 years since full continuity.
The quarterback will be new, though.
An example of the Vikings’ roster turnover during this offseason alone:
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.