Fox Sports recently released its rankings of the top 10 coaches who are already on the hot seat for 2026. A lot of obvious names were on that list, including Aaron Glenn of the Jets, Zac Taylor of the Bengals, and Nick Sirianni of the Eagles. The list also included some surprising names, such as Brian Schottenheimer of the Cowboys, Matt LaFleur of the Packers, and the Colts' Shane Steichen. Coming in at number seven was Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell. This may or may not be a surprise to some, but let's take a look at Fox Sports reasoning for putting O'Connell in the seventh spot on this maligned list of coaches.
They first go on to shower O'Connell with accolades, noting how respected he is in the league, has earned the reputation as "The Quarterback Whisperer", and how he's won more games than he's lost. They also point out that he just signed a contract extension and won the power struggle with general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. That is pretty much the reason why they put O'Connell on this list. Fox Sports notes that while he won that battle, the pressure is now all on him as the Wilfs want to see results, and another 9-8 season won't cut it. The article also lays out what O'Connell has to do to keep his job beyond next season. They say McCarthy has to develop, and the team has to return to the playoffs.
Is Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell on the hot seat for the 2026 NFL season?
Fox Sports is 100% spot on with their reasoning and for putting O'Connell on this list. Heck, he could even be higher on it, and no one would bat an eye. Kevin O'Connell will be under immense pressure this season, and a trip to the playoffs may not be enough to keep his job. JJ McCarthy's progress will be detrimental toO'Connell's future tenure as the Vikings' head coach. If he has more downs than ups in 2026 and doesn't show any growth or shed more light on whether he's the quarterback of the future, that will reflect very poorly on O'Connell's ability to develop a young quarterback. If the Vikings make it to the playoffs because the defense is carrying them and they are winning despite McCarthy and not because of him, O'Connell could still get the ax.
One thing the article failed to mention, which will make O'Connell's seat even hotter, is that he's likely going to have more influence over personnel decisions this offseason. With Rob Brzezinski as the interim general manager, it's been widely speculated that O'Connell and Flores's opinions of draft prospects and free agent targets will carry more weight than they have before. This team, especially on offense, will truly be O'Connell's, and if they go down in flames, he will too. Speaking of Flores, having him on the team also adds to the pressure to win now for O'Connell. The Wilfs could view Flores as a head coach waiting in the wings, and if the Vikings start the season cold, ownership could let O'Connell go and promote Flores to head coach.
Fox Sports's list of head coaches heading into 2026 on the hot seat included Kevin O'Connell, and it had to. He's arguably under as much pressure to produce results in 2026 as any other coach in the league. He got the quarterback he wanted in JJ McCarthy, and if he doesn't take a major leap forward this year, it'll be one nail in the coffin for O'Connell to remain the Vikings head coach. He also has more power over the roster this year, and if the players he brings in fail, that'll be nail number two. The Wilfs need results, have a head coach waiting in the wings, and anything short of a playoff appearance will be the final nail and seal Kevin O'Connnel's fate as the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings.