Things are growing uncomfortably quiet on the Kevin O’Connell front. The Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator is expected to be hired as the new head coach for the Minnesota Vikings, but Sean McVay’s recent retirement talk has drastically changed things.
It’s important to note that pen hasn’t been put to paper yet, and as of right now, O’Connell is free to do whatever he likes.
So what if McVay does decide to call it quits at age 36 and leave the head coaching job in Los Angeles open to his offensive counterpart? The decision for O’Connell would likely be staying with the Rams at that point.
His fingerprints are all over the offense in Los Angeles—you know, the same offense that just had the game-winning drive at Super Bowl LVI on Sunday. Matthew Stafford is a top-10 quarterback with an embarrassment of riches on the offensive side of the ball, including Super Bowl LVI MVP receiver Cooper Kupp. And on the defensive side of the ball, the team still has three-time Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald and the best shutdown corner in the game, Jalen Ramsey.
It’s hard to believe he’d leave palm trees and sunshine for snowplows and snow coats.
The one hang-up is the assumption that he would even be asked to take the job. Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris would likely also be a candidate to step into the role of head coach if McVay decided to walk away. But there’s no question that the Rams job would be one of the best coaching opportunities to open up in years.
That isn’t to suggest the Vikings aren’t in a great spot as well. They are loaded at the offensive skilled positions and likely a strong defensive draft away from competing in the NFC, despite missing the playoffs for the last two seasons.
Keep in mind, it wouldn’t be the first time an expected hire changed his mind at the last minute. Las Vegas Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels pulled the rug from underneath the Indianapolis Colts back in 2016. He was announced as the new head coach for the team, and then he decided he wanted to keep his job as the offensive coordinator for the New England Patriots instead.
So it all comes down to McVay and timing. If O’Connell really is unsure about his decision, the Vikings will be in a scramble to find a suitable replacement to step in and take over a staff that was built for another coach.
It’s the sort of nightmare that would make Elm Street look like a kiddy carnival.
All Vikings fans can do is wait and hold their collective breath that things go according to the original plan: The team getting their Super Bowl-winning head coach and rebuilding a perennial contender in Minnesota.
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