SKOL! Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell was named NFL Coach of the Year by the Associated Press on Thursday evening. The award was presented as part of the NFL Honors programming in New Orleans.
Photo by Nate Ryan
The honor was presented by former NFL head coach Bill Belichick, who selected O’Connell in the third-round draft back in 2008. “As a pretty raw quarterback prospect I was going to play for the greatest coach of all time,” O’Connell said in his acceptance speech. “So, at times I felt a little bit like being thrown into the deep end of the pool. … But I remember waking up in the morning and saying to myself, ‘No matter what, I don’t want to miss out on being around any of this.'”
O’Connell also thanked God, his family, the Vikings organization, and of course, the fans.
“To our players and coaches, this was a special year,” O’Connell said. “This season was one I’ll always remember. A special football team. They came together in a way that I am so proud of. The culture, the team that you guys built is what this is all about. We’ve got great support staff in our building, difference makers. The way I look at it, they make us as the Minnesota Vikings so proud to go to work every day.”
This award follows close on the heels of O’Connell’s multiyear contract extension with the Vikings, plus additional NFL Coach of the Year honors from Pro Football Writers of America and Sporting News.
Photo by Nate Ryan
Check out our interview with O’Connell from Minnesota Monthly‘s Sept/Oct issue to learn more about his leadership style, pregame rituals, and more.
