Former NFLer Accuses Kevin O’Connell of Sabotage
We’ve reached the sabotage chapter of the 2025 Minnesota Vikings’ season, believe it or not. This week, three-time Super Bowl champion Tedy Bruschi claimed that Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell has “sold out” his quarterback J.J. McCarthy by telling the media about his young passer’s faults.
A Tedy Bruschi claim that Kevin O’Connell sabotaged J.J. McCarthy adds fire to growing doubts about the Vikings’ offense and QB future.
It’s a wild accusation in a season that doesn’t need any more bad news.
Tedy Bruschi Brings the Heat to Kevin O’Connell’s Approach
A bizarre take, to be sure.
Bruschi on O’Connell + McCarthy
On last week’s edition of Sunday NFL Countdown on ESPN, Bruschi prefaced his statement as an opinion — not a fact.
He said on ESPN airwaves, “In my opinion, Kevin O’Connell calculatedly sold out the quarterback that they decided to keep, and that was J.J. McCarthy. Because, when you’re talking about which way your foot’s pointing, your base, your leg kick; Kevin let everyone inside to what he was thinking about his very own first round pick quarterback, and the guy who is going to be his quarterback for the next ten years.”
“This is what’s wrong with this kid and this is why I can’t coach this kid. This is why the cement’s not drying. These aren’t my words. This is what Kevin O’Connell said. What I take those comments as, is maybe Kevin O’Connell wasn’t happy with the whole decision too, because we obviously know what the fundamental problems are with J.J. McCarthy as a quarterback.”
Quite the assessment from a man who doesn’t typically toss out hot takes from left field.
The Implication
So, what is Bruschi implying? Well, if Bruschi is correct, and O’Connell is using code and passive aggression to chide his own quarterback, that would have to mean that he never really wanted McCarthy in the first place.
Some fringe rumors have persisted in the last two years that O’Connell never wished to see Kirk Cousins or Sam Darnold leave the franchise.
If Bruschi has it right — it’s a stretch to assume that Bruschi is on to something — O’Connell is subtly protesting what his general manager gave him. It’s quite the conspiracy, but that is the writing on the wall per Bruschi’s declaration.
Teammates for a Year
A quick side note: Bruschi and O’Connell do not have longstanding beef. In fact, the two were teammates for a season in 2008, when the Patriots drafted O’Connell as a backup quarterback to Tom Brady.
They only crossed paths for a year and presumably know each other, at least a smidgen, so it’s strange that Bruschi would hurl the accusation at O’Connell on national television.
Bruschi must be rather convinced that his argument is solid.
O’Connell’s Woes with Young QBs
To an extent or all the way, O’Connell has worked well with these quarterbacks, guiding Minnesota to victories over the last four seasons:
- Kirk Cousins
- Joshua Dobbs
- Nick Mullens
- Sam Darnold
- Carson Wentz
O’Connell has not consistently found dubs with these quarterbacks:
- J.J. McCarthy
- Max Brosmer
- Jaren Hall
In this light, O’Connell has succeeded with veteran quarterbacks who can grasp his complex offense. The youngsters have floundered.
If one wants evidence to remotely support Bruschi’s contention, this is it.
Other O’Connell Takes
The Viking Age‘s Adam Patrick opined on the O’Connell and McCarthy situation this week: “All offseason long, O’Connell claimed over and over again how ready McCarthy was to step in and take over as the starting quarterback for a Vikings team that won 14 games in 2024. Well, even Stevie Wonder can see that those claims weren’t even close to being correct.”
“In his six starts this year, McCarthy has looked very nervous and indecisive, which is what many would typically expect from a quarterback who has never started in a regular-season game before a few weeks ago. Despite his poor performances, O’Connell hasn’t done a whole lot to make life easier for his young quarterback out on the field this year.”
McCarthy is the NFL’s single-worst passer (min. 150 dropbacks) this season per EPA+CPOE.
“Some might say that Minnesota has recently been calling more run plays than they did earlier in the season, and that should be enough. But it also matters when these run plays are called. McCarthy has taken the majority of the blame for his awful performances this season, and he’s definitely not free of criticism,” Patrick continued.
“But O’Connell hasn’t done the kid any favors either with how he’s ignored what the 22-year-old quarterback is currently incapable of doing, and at this point, it’s completely fair to question whether he is even the right head coach to develop McCarthy.”
McCarthy’s next test is Dan Quinn’s defense this Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium.
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