4 major gambles that could pay off for the Vikings in 2022
By Dean Jones
Hiring Kevin O’Connell
It seemed inevitable from a long way out that 2021 would be Mike Zimmer’s final season as the Vikings’ head coach. Things were coming apart gradually and although they barely missed the postseason, ownership felt this was the right time for a fresh start.
After an exhausting interview process, the Vikings picked Kevin O’Connell as the man to lead them moving forward. He arrives on the back of a memorable Super Bowl victory with the Los Angeles Rams and his more relaxed way of thinking has gone down well with players over the early offseason period.
O’Connell is one of the brightest young minds in the business. Coming from the Sean McVay coaching tree is something the Vikings clearly valued and it could be the springboard to a dynamic offense coming of age next season.
Hiring someone with no head coaching experience was a gamble. But Zimmer didn’t have any either before going on to achieve great things.
Just how much O’Connell can be credited for the Rams’ success is a moot point. What’s important for the Vikings is their man at the helm stamping his own mark in a prominent leadership position and guiding a talented group of players back into playoff contention.
It’s been an impressive start for O’Connell in tough circumstances. Hopefully, this can be a solid foundation from which to build in Minnesota.