NFL insider: Teams could inquire about trade for Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell

Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer reported NFL teams could inquire about Kevin O’Connell in a possible trade for the Minnesota Vikings coach.

O’Connell is only signed through the 2025 season and if he chooses not to re-sign, he could command a price if the Vikings don’t want to let him walk. Granted, coaching trades are rare.

But it is interesting timing considering the Pittsburgh Steelers could reportedly field trade calls for Mike Tomlin. At least, teams seem to be interested in inquiring.

“There are multiple teams that actually are considering trying to trade for Kevin O’Connell,” Glazer said on FOX NFL Sunday. “And the reason why, next year, the last year of his deal, had no contract talks yet at all. And look, if you’re a team out there saying, why not take a shot? See if we can do it Maybe the Vikings don’t let it happen. 

“But also, Kevin O’Connell kind of has the cards in his hand saying, Hey, listen, I’m not going to re-sign there, so you might as well get something for me. Now, I don’t know, because obviously I don’t think Kevin knows about this right now, but there are multiple teams who have him on that board saying ‘let’s at least try and trade for him.’”

O’Connell, 39, is 14-2 this season as the Vikings take on the Detroit Lions Sunday night for the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs.

Now in his third season, O’Connell is 34-16 overall and went 13-4 during his first season in 2022, but lost in the NFC Wild Card round to the New York Giants.

Despite losing Kirk Cousins to an Achilles injury in the middle of the season last year, O’Connell kept the Vikings afloat and finished 7-10 while fighting for a playoff spot late in the year.

This year might be his best work though. And why the Vikings haven’t extended their coach is certainly curious to this point. Perhaps a deal can be worked out after the season, following this year’s results.

Still, the results speak for themselves. With an opportunity to equal a franchise record in regular season wins (15), O’Connell put the Vikings in Super Bowl contention.

Led by the resurrection of QB Sam Darnold and an elite defense, Minnesota could have home field advantage throughout the postseason with a win in Detroit Sunday night.