Kevin O’Connell’s NFL Coach Ranking Revealed by PFN
With minicamps in the rearview and NFL training camps about five weeks away, it’s apparently the time for some to examine head coach rankings around the NFL.
Kevin O’Connell checked modestly in Pro Football Network’s recent NFL head coach rankings. Here’s how PFN ranked the Vikings’ skipper.
The Minnesota Vikings employ one of the league’s most promising skippers, and per PFN, Kevin O’Connell is a Top 12 coaching commodity.
O’Connell took over the Vikings in 2022 and has engineered the sport’s sixth-best win percentage since.
Where Pro Football Network Ranks Kevin O’Connell Among NFL Coaches
The Vikings’ leader earned some kudos from PFN, ranking as the league’s 12th-best skipper heading into 2025, O’Connell’s fourth as a head coach.
Kevin O’Connell = 12th-Best Head Coach per PFN
Some Vikings fans perceive O’Connell as a Top 10 skipper, but here’s the counterargument — who does he surpass on the way?
PFN’s Brandon Austin broke down O’Connell’s No. 12 ranking: “Kevin O’Connell might be one of the most underrated head coaches in football. In just three seasons as the Minnesota Vikings’ head coach, he’s compiled a 34-17 record, won 13 or more games twice, and kept the team squarely in the playoff hunt.”
“And he’s done so without having an elite quarterback. One of the game’s brightest minds, O’Connell consistently finds ways to generate offense and win games, which is easier said than done in today’s QB-driven league. He deserves a lot of credit for Sam Darnold’s career revival in 2024.”
O’Connell might need an elusive playoff win to earn Top 10 credibility.
Austin added, “Though Darnold is no longer in Minnesota, O’Connell’s leadership has helped shift the narrative on a player who was once dubbed a bust. The Vikings overachieved in 2022, finishing with a 13-4 record. Then, they posted a 14-3 mark last year despite losing J.J. McCarthy before the season even began.”
“O’Connell has proven that he can have success regardless of who’s under center. Bringing in Brian Flores as defensive coordinator was also a game-changing move that shouldn’t go unnoticed.”
The Top 15
Here’s how the PFN Top 15 played out:
- Andy Reid (Kansas City Chiefs)
- Sean McVay (Los Angeles Chargers)
- John Harbaugh (Baltimore Ravens)
- Nick Sirianni (Philadelphia Eagles)
- Dan Campbell (Detroit Lions)
- Kyle Shanahan (San Francisco 49ers)
- Mike Tomlin (Pittsburgh Steelers)
- Jim Harbaugh (Los Angeles Chargers)
- Matt LaFleur (Green Bay Packers)
- Sean Payton (Denver Broncos)
- Sean McDermott (Buffalo Bills)
- Kevin O’Connell (Minnesota Vikings)
- Dan Quinn (Washington Commanders)
- Todd Bowles (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
- DeMeco Ryans (Houston Texans)
A Fair Ranking
Let’s face it — the PFN ranking is pretty damn fair. Would one feel comfortable removing LaFleur and inserting O’Connell? Maybe. But that could be called Vikings fans’ bias.
Otherwise, all coaches ahead of O’Connell in PFN’s system deserve their spots. Put plainly — the NFL has several stellar coaches, and with O’Connell just three years in, he’s only really getting off the ground.
Ability to Climb into Top 10 as Early as Now
Thankfully for O’Connell’s sake, he can move some of the heavy hitters out of the way in 2025. He’ll need a playoff win or two before too long, but his depth chart looks dazzling after a momentous offseason.
O’Connell has shown the ability to win regular season games at a Top 6 clip. Now, he needs the postseason flair to accompany the September-December theatrics.
PFN on Andy Reid as Top Dog
Predictably, Chiefs’ skipper Andy Reid led the way, another fair assessment.
Austin defended the choice: “Now a three-time Super Bowl champion and one of the winningest coaches in NFL history, Andy Reid has solidified his status as not just the best coach in today’s NFL but one of the greatest of all time.”
“The Kansas City Chiefs have reached the Super Bowl five times since 2019 under Reid’s leadership, an unprecedented run in the modern era. Losing to the Eagles in this past Super Bowl doesn’t change the fact that he remains the gold standard. Sure, Patrick Mahomes has been a central piece in the Chiefs’ dominance, but Reid’s imprint can be felt throughout the operation.”
The next test for Reid is to see if the Chiefs can get back on the saddle and resume their dynasty in 2025.
Austin concluded, “From his elite play design to his in-game adjustments, Reid’s offense continues to thrive regardless of any deficiencies the unit may have. What makes Reid’s greatness even more remarkable is how sustainable it’s been. Over 26 seasons with the Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles, he’s won half of his six Super Bowl appearances.”
“His consistency, creativity, and leadership remain unmatched.”
The Vikings will play the Chiefs again in 2027.
You must be logged in to post a comment.