Kevin O’Connell’s Contract Reflects His Prowess
The Minnesota Vikings entered the season with uncertain futures regarding head coach Kevin O’Connell. He deserved a contract extension but had yet to see the franchise put their money up. After trade rumors and an incredible season, the deal got done.
Kevin O’Connell’s Contract Reflects His Prowess
Now, the money looks like it reflects a coach on the rise.
Our very own Dustin Baker reported O’Connell’s $ 13 million annual salary and five-year extension. That is a hefty sum for a head coach and easily puts him in the top ten among his peers.
Coaches have no salary cap, and the Wilf family needed to ensure that they compensated their leader. There was never any genuine belief that O’Connell would be sent anywhere else. The Vikings certainly weren’t going to trade him, and opposing franchises could’ve made a bid, but it would have been brushed aside.
Getting the bag was always part of the plan. Of course, O’Connell is comfortable in Minnesota, but he also needed to see the payday. Ultimately, that came to fruition, putting the Vikings in a positive light from now on.
This last season, O’Connell elevated Sam Darnold to heights he had never seen before. The former first-round pick had flamed out in multiple stops, and his new head coach got the best out of him. Multiple offensive weapons certainly didn’t hurt, but the head coach got the job done.
Extending O’Connell in that light makes all the sense in the world. J.J. McCarthy needs a leader that can do the most for him. Daniel Jones, or some other veteran backup, needs a leader who can help lessen the blow if a starter goes down.
The Super Bowl puts a legacy coach in the spotlight. It also shows off an up-and-coming star. The Vikings have the latter version in O’Connell, and it’s only a matter of time before he reaches the same heights.
Sam Darnold’s Price Tag Takes Shape
Ted Schwerzler is a blogger from the Twin Cities that is focused on all things Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings. He’s active on Twitter and writes daily for Minnesota Sports Fan. As a former college athlete and avid sports fan, covering our pro teams with a passion has always seemed like such a natural outlet.
You must be logged in to post a comment.