The results are in, and the Vikings once again received flying colors on the NFL Players Association Report Card.
Minnesota ranked second behind Miami, after placing first last offseason. The NFLPA wrote that the Vikings and Dolphins "have separated themselves into their own tier in terms of what it means to run a world-class NFL workplace."
The Vikings continue to impress across all categories in our second annual survey. Their facilities are incredible; their staff is rated highly by players; and the workplace experience for Vikings players is enhanced by the continued commitment by ownership to providing a world-class experience for players. As an example, Vikings players unanimously believe that their strength staff contribute to their success by supporting each player with the best possible individualized plan; and for the second straight year, Kevin O'Connell stands out as a head coach for whom players enjoy working.
[Vikings Owner/Chairman] Zygi Wilf [and Owner/President Mark Wilf rank] second among all club owners and ownership groups, which shows how much confidence players have in his willingness to create a workplace that, in many areas, sets the standard across the NFL.
As noted above, the Vikings head coach and Ownership group received votes of high confidence, each receiving an A-plus rating.
The survey showed that 100 percent of players believe O'Connell is "very willing to listen to the locker room," and 98 percent feel he is efficient with their time. The Wilfs received a 9.7/10 rating from players when considering their willingness to invest in the facilities.
O'Connell was asked about the recognition during a session with Twin Cities beat reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine.
"I think more than anything it just means the guys are responding to my style of being authentic, being the same guy every day, challenging them to be the best versions of themselves," he said. "I think culture-wise, what we've built over two years, for that to be that, you envision it being something that can sustain within our locker room and the dynamic with my relationship with those guys, but it also means if anything, I look at it coming off the two years we've had, two totally separate, different years, different challenges, different levels of success or failure, that gives me the opportunity to continue push our organization forward under the principles I believe in that our guys are responding to and feel strongly about.
"But also there is no ceiling on us as far as what we're able to do from a standpoint of elevating our players, our team, competing, building the type of team that I think we need to build from a mentality standpoint and all that," O'Connell added. "I feel very strongly about my relationship with the guys, and it's not something I take for granted for one second and never will. It's too important."
Minnesota ranked first among all teams in the following categories: treatment of facilities, nutritionist/dietician, locker room and strength coaches. The Vikings ranked second in training room, team travel, head coach and ownership.
According to the survey, 100 percent of Vikings players are happy with the locker room size, 100 percent feel they get an individualized strength-training plan and 96 percent appreciate their individualized nutrition plan. Players also are grateful to receive their own hotel rooms on road trips and for high-quality equipment in the Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center weight room.
The team ranked in the top 10 in all 11 categories, with only three categories falling outside of the top two. The Vikings were seventh in food/cafeteria (B-plus), eighth in weight room (A) and ninth in training staff (B).
