Kevin O’Connell has quickly made a name for himself as one of the NFL’s rising stars in coaching. Since taking over as the Minnesota Vikings’ head coach in 2022, he’s delivered results. In his first season, O’Connell led the Vikings to a 13-4 record and their first NFC North title since 2017. While they fell short in the playoffs, it was a huge step forward for the team. After a 7-10 season in 2023, O’Connell bounced back in 2024, guiding the team to a 14-3 record and another postseason appearance. Over three seasons, he’s achieved a 34-17 record as head coach. That’s not bad for someone who’s only been in the job for a few years.
O’Connell’s success with the Vikings builds on his past as a player and coach. Before taking the top job in Minnesota, he was an NFL quarterback and even won a Super Bowl as the offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams in 2022. Clearly, he knows how to win.
From Backup Quarterback To Head Coach
Kevin O’Connell’s NFL journey didn’t start in coaching, it started under center as a quarterback. Drafted in 2008 by the New England Patriots, he bounced around the league, playing for teams like the Lions, Jets, Dolphins, and Chargers. Over four seasons, he earned just over $6 million before retiring in 2012.
That’s when things really started to take off. O’Connell got his first coaching job in 2015 as the quarterbacks coach for the Cleveland Browns. He moved on to the 49ers and then Washington, where he worked his way up to offensive coordinator. In 2020, the Rams brought him in as their offensive coordinator, and he helped guide one of the league’s most explosive offenses to a Super Bowl win in 2022. That success made him a hot commodity, and the Vikings hired him as head coach in 2022.
Since taking over in Minnesota, O’Connell has made a great impact. His Vikings went an impressive 11-0 in one-possession games in 2022, which was the best in the league. Over three seasons, he’s brought home two division titles and turned the Vikings into playoff regulars.
Kevin O’Connell’s Contract And Career Earnings
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Recently, O’Connell got a well-deserved payday. He signed a five-year extension worth $60 million, bumping his annual salary from $5 million to $12 million. That puts him in the top tier of NFL coaches, tied as the eighth-highest-paid coach in the league with John Harbaugh of the Ravens. Only a few coaches make more than O’Connell, including Andy Reid ($20 million), Sean Payton ($18 million), and Mike Tomlin ($16 million).
His new contract shows how much the Vikings value him and believe he can deliver big things like a Super Bowl. O’Connell’s coaching career has far outshined his playing days when he earned $6 million over four years. Now, he’s one of the league’s top earners in coaching. With this new deal locked in, all eyes are on him to lead the Vikings to the promised land.
Also Read: Who Are The NFL’s Highest-Paid Coaches In 2024? Reid, Payton, And Tomlin Lead The List
