Can we all agree on one thing? Kevin O’Connell didn’t just become a head coach. He built his way up like a quarterback driving 99 yards with no timeouts. No shortcuts. No gimmicks. Just tape, trust, and tenacity. From backup QB with a clipboard to calling the shots in a Super Bowl, O’Connell has quietly become the NFL’s beloved guy with the headset (in a world where there’s a lot of love lost between fans and coaches). Now? The Vikings have him locked through 2029, and for good reason.

But before we get into the numbers, let’s rewind to a moment that wasn’t about wins or schemes or flashy plays. It was about humanity. We are in 2018—Washington. Alex Smith goes down with one of the most gruesome injuries the league’s seen. And right there, just 20 yards away, stood O’Connell—then just a young quarterbacks coach. He wasn’t shook. Because he knew, in his heart, that Alex would need him more than just feeling sorry for him. That’s what he did.

Kevin sat down with Flitz & Whit for a podcast interview and recalled the time. “I can remember going to visit him. I’d get done coaching, it’s 11 o’clock at night, and they tell me, ‘Hey, Alex has been having a tough time sleeping.’”

So, what did Kevin do? He picked up his car keys “and drove to the hospital to spend a couple hours with him before going back to the facility to go back to work the next day.” That wasn’t in the job description. But for him, it didn’t need to be. “This is bigger than football. This is about people,” as he rightly mentioned.

But if you’ve followed his coaching journey, you’ll know this isn’t just a one-off story. O’Connell’s whole coaching DNA is built on connection. From his early days mentoring Josh McCown in Cleveland to scheming with Alex Smith—yes, the same Smith who was older than him—to building game plans around veterans like Vernon Davis, O’Connell has always played the long game. Age gap? Irrelevant. Ego? Nowhere in sight. “All these guys care about at the end of the day is are you helping them?” he once said.

When he joined the Rams and helped engineer a Super Bowl-winning offense in 2022, he didn’t make it about himself. So, when the Vikings handed him the keys in 2022, he didn’t turn into a rah-rah guy either. Instead, he doubled down on what’s worked: develop quarterbacks and trust them, adapt systems, and above all, lead with purpose. “There’s another element to this… that does matter,” he says. You can tell he means it.

Meanwhile, when he puts his faith in a young gun like J.J. McCarthy, he doesn’t want him to be a system player. He needs JJ to embrace the culture and perform for the people and the rest will fall into place. Or fit in as they should. I mean, Skol Nation trusts him because he’s the AP Coach of the Year after he led the Vikes to a 14-3 finish to the 2024 season that no one expected them to finish.

Kevin O’Connell does not want to rush with J.J. McCarthy

J.J. McCarthy isn’t getting handed the keys to the Vikings’ offense like it’s a company car. Nah, Kevin O’Connell is making him earn it. You’d think being a first-round pick and throwing a ceremonial first pitch at Target Field buys you a little leeway, right? Not in Minnesota. Not under O’Connell. “That prominent distinction has yet to be earned,” the head coach made very clear. Translation: QB1 isn’t just a title—it’s a grind.

But hold up, O’Connell’s not throwing McCarthy to the wolves either. There’s a plan. A smart one. “He’s going to benefit from an offseason worth of reps… and being in a competitive situation when our quarterback room is finalized,” O’Connell said. Think of it like a slow-cooked brisket—low and steady, but man, it’s gonna be worth the wait. J.J. didn’t play in 2024. He rehabbed, learned, and absorbed the playbook like it was gospel. This season? Now we see what’s cooking.

But just to keep things spicy, there was a little flirtation with a certain four-time MVP. Yeah—that Aaron Rodgers. Kevin O’Connell didn’t hide it. Rodgers reached out. They talked. McCarthy was looped in “borderline real-time,” just in case fans were ready to stir the drama pot. It was never about replacing J.J., though. It was insurance… And it was business. “Aaron Rodgers is… somebody we’ve all had so much respect for competing against him,” O’Connell said. Fair. But also, McCarthy is still their guy.

Meanwhile, GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah even confirmed it. The ideal outcome? McCarthy takes over. But nobody’s skipping steps. In 2024, Sam Darnold balled out, went 14-3, and carried them into the playoffs. J.J. watched. Took notes. Sat in meetings. Learned the playbook inside out. Now? He’s got the clipboard down. Time to see if he’s got the command.

“I think it’s a responsibility for me… to make sure I’m building rapport… and demanding a standard,” O’Connell said. You can tell—this isn’t just about a starting gig. This is about building something sustainable. More than sustainable, something long-term. Even if J.J. McCarthy might not be QB1 yet, the runway’s clear. So, when he takes off? You’ll know O’Connell called every step of it.