When the hired to be the 10th head coach in Minnesota Vikings history (11th if you count one-game interim HC Mike Priefer in 2016), the idea was he would help identify Michael Thompson Jersey a quarterback and lead them to their . Going into year three, we will learn a lot more about O'Connell and his coaching prowe s.Where does O'Connell rank in the pantheon of head coaches? CBS Sports' Cody Benjamin and ranked O'Connell 12th in the NFL, one spot behind Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel.Few coaches have proven to be cooler characters in their first two years on the job; after infusing optimistic belief in a surprising 13-4 Aaron Banks Jersey debut that saw Minnesota escape one tight game after another, O'Connell was equally as trustworthy in 2023, when a rash of quarterback injuries didn't derail the franchise's morale. His pa s-oriented offense is perfect for Kyle McCombs Jersey their young, talented lineup.When having a conversation about O'Connell, his demeanor and morale is the first thing to discu s. The Vikings always believed they were going to win each game and played like it. Sure, they got smoked a couple of times, what team doesn't? They continued to fight in each game, including when the chips were down.O'Connell's best performance came in the first game after Kirk Cousins tore his Achilles tendon. Rookie Jaren Hall got his first start but a concu sion took him out on just the second drive. In comes Josh Dobbs, who had been with the team for just five days. O'Connell coached him up through the headset and explained each play so he could run it. That turned into a 31-28 come-from-behind win that was a wake-up call to the NFL world.O' Clarkston Hines Jersey Connell wasn't able to Izaiah Prouse-Lackey Jersey continue that succe s, as the lack of consistency at quarterback ended up taking its toll and the Vikings finished 7-10. They used their high draft slot to move up slightly and select with the 10th overall pick.If O'Connell is going to rise in the head coach rankings, the succe s of McCarthy is paramount.Make sure to check outour every day for the best and latest Minnesota Vikings news and analysis.