Vikings Misses and Myths: a Kevin O’Connell Trade, Mac Jones, Mike McDaniel
The offseason truly becomes a forum for wild Minnesota Vikings takes, making our weekly “Misses and Myths” segment quite fierce every Sunday. This week is no different, as some have advanced a Kevin O’Connell trade, the San Francisco 49ers taking Mac Jones off the trade market, and Vikings fans’ big OC dream dying.
This week’s misses and myths feature some doozies, especially the O’Connell trade idea.
So, here’s this week’s nopedy nopes, items in Minnesota’s orbit that are wrong, absurd, or just didn’t work out.
Vikings Nopedy Nopes on Coaches and QBs
We have Vikings-themed Nopedy Nopes for Offseason Week No. 3.
The Nopedy Nope: The Vikings will trade Kevin O’Connell to the Bills.
Sean McDermott’s termination rippled quickly across the league this week, opening the door for speculation that apparently extends well beyond Orchard Park.
After the Bills dismissed McDermott, SI.com’s Conor Orr surveyed the lay of the land in the NFL and ventured into more aggressive territory, writing, “Do not rule out the exploration of a head coaching trade for Buffalo. I think this is something being bandied about in league circles — though to be clear, I am not reporting it as an inevitability or even a possibility. It would be immensely complicated and cost a talent-deprived Bills team more draft capital.”
“In my mind, the three best play-calling, offensive-minded head coaches who would be attainable via trade (meaning, there’s no way in hell the 49ers would trade Kyle Shanahan or the Rams would trade Sean McVay): the Vikings’ Kevin O’Connell, Panthers’ Dave Canales and Colts’ Shane Steichen.”
O’Connell’s inclusion drew the attention of Vikings fans. Orr believes, in his scenario, that Minnesota would simply promote Brian Flores.
“And, again, we’re just playing on this playground, but how interesting would it be if you’re the Vikings and you simply promote Brian Flores to head coach and reap the draft capital from an O’Connell trade?”
This idea is fun, but it’s not grounded in reality.
The Verdict: No, the Vikings won’t trade their recently-extended head coach to the Bills. Nopedy Nope.
The Nopedy Nope: Mac Jones as a trade candidate for Minnesota this offseason.
San Francisco’s season ended abruptly last weekend, buried by Seattle in a postseason loss that forced the 49ers to pivot quickly into offseason mode.
As questions turned toward roster direction at the year-end press conference, head coach Kyle Shanahan was pressed on Mac Jones and didn’t leave much to the imagination in his response. “You always listen to people with trade offers, but we’re also not into getting rid of good players. So I’d be very surprised if Mac wasn’t around us next year.”
General manager John Lynch echoed that stance, leaning into Jones’ internal value: “You always listen, but I know we’re a better football team with Mac Jones on our roster. Mac made this place better. He was outstanding this season. He picked us up in a huge way. When we needed him … he went in there and won us a lot of football games, and he kept us in this thing.”
“He brings an energy to this team that’s really cool. And he’s good for Brock. That quarterback room is very stimulating.”
Those words mean Jones won’t be traded unless the other team includes a whopper of a proposal involving a 1st- or 2nd-Round pick.
The Verdict: Nopedy nope on Jones as easily obtainable in the trade market.
The Nopedy Nope: Mike McDaniel as an offensive coordinator possibility for the 2026 Vikings.
McDaniel is closing in on a deal to become the Los Angeles Chargers’ offensive coordinator in 2026.
ESPN’s Kris Rhim noted Tuesday, “The Chargers are expected to hire former Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel as the team’s new offensive coordinator, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Jeff Darlington on Tuesday night. McDaniel had interviewed for multiple head coaching and offensive coordinator positions since the Dolphins fired him last week.”
“The Buccaneers and Eagles pursued him as their top offensive coordinator target, with Tampa Bay especially diligent in its courtship, sources told Darlington. However, the lure of getting back to California, where he spent years with the San Francisco 49ers, and the chance to coach talented quarterback Justin Herbert helped inform McDaniel’s final decision, and barring a change of heart, he will join coach Jim Harbaugh in Los Angeles.”
When the Vikings’ season began to tumble in November, some fans saw the writing on the wall that McDaniel could be canned in Miami, which later happened in January. At the time, the same crowd thought McDaniel would fit nicely in Minnesota in 2026.
That idea is kaput.
The Verdict: Nopedy Nope on McDaniel taking a non-playcalling job with the Vikings. Why would he do that?
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