The Minnesota Vikings have already exceeded expectations early on in the 2024 NFL season. They have blown out the New York Giants on the road, knocked off the San Francisco 49ers and demolished the up and coming Houston Texans. Some major talking points surrounding the Vikings have been about how excellent the Vikings personnel looks on the field compared to on paper, a direct sign of great coaching. Kevin O’Connell and Brian Flores have completely changed the culture in the locker room and have given this team an identity.
Kevin O’Connell was a pupil of offensive guru Sean McVay (Los Angeles Rams Coach). The Vikings then hired him after winning Super Bowl LVI as the offensive coordinator for the Rams. He instantly came into Minnesota and coached them to a 13-4 record before eventually falling short to the Giants in the playoffs. In his second year with the team, he looked to build upon the success of the year prior and hired Brian Flores as defensive coordinator; unfortunately, injuries to key players such as Kirk Cousins and Justin Jefferson derailed the season. This offseason the Vikings moved on from Cousins and brought in Sam Darnold to be a “bridge” quarterback for when rookie JJ McCarthy is ready. The media saw what Darnold had done in previous years and wrote the Vikings off before the season started. However, the play-calling and offensive scheme created by O’Connell has made NFL defenses look silly, even without TJ Hockenson and Jordan Addison. O’Connell is finally getting the recognition he deserves as one of the best offensive minds and head coaches in the league.
Brian Flores, the defensive play-caller for the Vikings, is similar to O’Connell in the sense that he is a disciple of a famous coach, in his case, Bill Belichek. He has been on a few teams as the defensive play-caller with some success, but ultimately, his opportunity as a head coach with the Miami Dolphins ended in disaster. After a short stint as an assistant with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Minnesota gave him a call and offered him a job as defensive coordinator. His impact was felt immediately, players like Josh Metellus and Ivan Pace Jr. were used in various ways to confuse offenses around the league. This offseason, he added veterans to the roster such as Andrew Van Ginkle and Stephon Gilmore to bolster an already formidable defense even further. Through three weeks, Flores’ defense has held up against the Giants, 49ers and Texans, letting up an average of 10 points per game. The journey has been nothing short of laborious for Flores but it looks like he has finally found his place.
O’Connell and Flores are changing the narrative in Minnesota and are shooting for a goal nobody expected them to reach, to be champions of the NFC North.
