Although Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell is a relatively new head coach, many around the league believe he’s an up-and-coming star.
Ross Tucker of The 33rd team recently ranked all 32 head coaches and placed O’Connell as the 15th-best coach in the NFL.
According to Tucker, O’Connell’s ability as a late-game decision-maker was the difference.
Again only a one-year sample, but O’Connell went 13-4 and seemingly won every single close game the entire season,” Tucker wrote. “So he must be doing something right with his late-game coaching decisions.
Last season, the Vikings won nine games decided by seven points or less in the regular season. That record included overtime wins against the Buffalo Bills and Indianapolis Colts, where the Vikings erased a 33-point deficit.
O’Connell was the highest-ranked head coach in the NFC North. Dan Campbell (Detroit Lions) and Matt LaFleur (Green Bay Packers) placed right behind O’Connell and No. 16 and 17, respectively, while Matt Eberflus (Chicago Bears) was ranked as the 28th-best coach.
