Kevin O'Connell would be the last person to ask for recognition. So it's nice when others vouch for him.
In this case, peers across the league are lauding him as their runaway pick for NFL Coach of the Year.
Tom Pelissero on Wednesday revealed the results from his annual early awards survey, which polled a group of high-ranking executives. Twenty-seven individuals participated on the condition of anonymity.
We repeat: The Vikings head coach was a sweeping favorite.
Pelissero shared the following about O'Connell, who has formed a culture respected across the NFL:
It was a landslide win for O'Connell, who received 16.5 votes -- 13.5 more than any other candidate. He has the Vikings in position to win the NFC North and potentially secure the No. 1 seed with a castoff quarterback, Sam Darnold, playing the best football of his life on a one-year contract. Only the Packers have led for more total game time this season than the Vikings, who also have seven comeback wins and seven one-possession wins. Few teams are as well-trained at situational football.
In his third season at the helm, O'Connell is on the cusp of matching his 2022 wins (13) and doubling the preseason win total set by the betting markets (6.5). He's transcended the low expectations for his team.
Well, low external expectations.
One reason O'Connell's culture is so strong this year is the belief he's instilled in the Vikings locker room. Players are grounded, confident and selfless – in large part because O'Connell has exhibited those traits.
For what it's worth, Pittsburgh's Mike Tomlin garnered the next most votes (3), and four others were considered to some degree: Dan Campbell (2), Andy Reid (2), Sean McVay (1.5) and Sean McDermott (1).
Unsurprisingly, more Vikings received love from league executives.
Outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel received one vote for Defensive Player of the Year; T.J. Watt led that category with 13.5. We'll add the separation should not be so great. "Gink" has 9.0 sacks, 15 tackles for loss and two interceptions returned for touchdowns. Watt has 11.5 and 18, plus six forced fumbles.
Also, in the tightest race on Pelissero's survey, Vikings General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah collected 2.5 votes for Executive of the Year, succumbing to Detroit's Brad Holmes (6), Buffalo's Brandon Beane (5) and Philadelphia's Howie Roseman (4.5). In our book, Adofo-Mensah is most deserving because he brought in arguably the most impactful free-agent class in franchise history, headlined by Darnold, Van Ginkel, Aaron Jones, Sr., Jonathan Greenard and Blake Cashman, and because of his expert acquisition of veteran left tackle Cam Robinson after budding star Christian Darrisaw suffered ACL and MCL injuries.
Unsung Hero: Brian O'Neill
Underrated, overlooked, underappreciated.
The list of possible adjectives that describe fans' and national media's unfamiliarity with Vikings right tackle Brian O'Neill's phenomenal performance so far this season is long – O'Neill has played lights out.
Yet he's nowhere to be found on the latest 2025 Pro Bowl Games fan voting update, and hardly seems to be mentioned in the same breath as the sport's top right tackles, such as Lane Johnson and Penei Sewell.
Now, because of the toughness he displayed on Monday Night Football, O'Neill is getting his flowers.
The 29-year-old on Wednesday was named Pro Football Network's "Unsung Hero of the Week."
O'Neill managed to play 63 of 77 offensive snaps in the 30-12 win against Chicago despite being hit awkwardly in the knee on two occasions in the first half. The original injury scare happened on a short rush by Jones in the Bears red zone, about nine minutes into the contest, and forced O'Neill to the turf.
He ended up walking off under his own power and returned to the game on the next Vikings possession.
Then in the final 90 seconds of the first half, it happened again. As O'Neill carried his pass-set 1 yard deeper than Darnold's drop back, he was plowed into by a Chicago defender rushing from the other side.
O'Neill headed to the locker room slightly earlier than his teammates, got fitted for a knee brace, slapped on some tape and returned for the second Minnesota drive in the second half. How about that?
But wait, it got even more impressive.
O'Neill's second-half highlights included a second-level block on a Bears linebacker that helped spring Jones for 14 yards on a toss sweep. Three plays later, O'Neill assisted Jones with a combo block on his 1-yard touchdown run. Shortly after, and easily best of all, O'Neill sprinted 30 yards upfield to help clear space for Justin Jefferson on a 21-yard screen pass, reaching the deep safety going 16.1 miles per hour.
Help the NFL's best unsung right tackle get to the Pro Bowl: Vikings.com/probowl.
