Heading into Week 14, the Minnesota Vikings are 10-2 and look to be destined for a spot in the playoffs. Not every team is in as positive of a position as the purple and gold, which means some big moves could be in order.
Listening to chatter from experts and analysts around the league is always interesting. Some of the ideas they present could make a lot of sense for the Vikings while others don't seem to benefit the team nearly as much.
A recently suggested trade that involves two teams in the NFC North could put one of those teams in a much better position for the future while the other would accumulate some draft capital to improve their roster.
Franchise-altering Vikings trade idea suggested to help NFC North rival
It's always good when the idea starts with "this is going to sound crazy" because ESPN senior NFL writer Kalyn Kahler shared an idea that could get her banned from ever entering the state of Minnesota.
kahler's post on X involved the Chicago Bears trading for Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell.
This is going to sound crazy, but the Bears need to think crazy. They should trade for Kevin O’Connell. Caleb and KOC love each other. I don’t know if the Vikings would ever part with him, but Chicago should at least try. Added bonus: I believe his agent is Trace Armstrong
— Kalyn Kahler (@kalynkahler) December 2, 2024
While this would be a creative solution to Chicago's head coaching vacancy, it would be shocking if the Vikings would have any interest in shipping their current head coach to a division rival since he found success in Minnesota.
O'Connell would be an excellent coach for a young quarterback like Caleb Williams, but is also set to take on that role with J.J. McCarthy in Minnesota next season when the former Michigan quarterback is healthy and ready to take the field.
Don't be surprised if the Bears look to a different coach in the division to fill their vacancy. Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson is bound to be a popular interview for head coaching positions in 2025 thanks to his success with Jared Goff and the exciting offense the team has consistently showcased every week.
It's always a ton of fun to speculate about something like this. There is some precedent for a trade like this since head coaches like Don Shula, Mike Holmgren, Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Sean Payton, and others have been dealt in trades.
O'Connell is 46-30 as the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings and is known for being able to get the most out of his quarterbacks. It would be absolutely shocking if he were to leave the team before seeing what kind of magic he can work with J.J. McCarthy.