Kevin O'Connell has been named The Associated Press' NFL Coach of the Year.

Or should we say "K.O.ach" of the Year?

The Vikings head coach received the award Thursday night during NFL Honors programming in New Orleans.

Former NFL Head Coach Bill Belichick, who selected O'Connell in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft, and NFL Legend Deion Sanders presented the honor.

"First and foremost, I want to thank God. I want to thank my family," O'Connell said. "It all starts with my beautiful wife, Leah; you are my rock. You are everything to me, and you fuel everything that I'm able to do in this profession. Our four kids — Kaden, Quinn, Kolten and Callie — they couldn't be here tonight, but they're definitely watching in Minnesota."

O'Connell went on to emphasize, "This is an organizational award."

"When I think about what this organization is for me and what it has been for me, it all starts with our people, and it all starts with our owners, Mark and Zygi Wilf," he told the crowd, where Mark Wilf was in attendance. "What you guys have provided me, the opportunity to be the head coach of your organization, is one of the most special things, and I don't take it for granted one day.

"To our players and coaches, this was a special year," O'Connell continued. "This season was one I'll always remember. A special football team. They came together in a way that I am so proud of. The culture, the team that you guys built is what this is all about. We've got great support staff in our building, difference makers. The way I look at it, they make us as the Minnesota Vikings so proud to go to work every day.

"And speaking of that, last but not least, our fans — the greatest fans in the National Football League," he added. "Can't wait to see you guys at U.S. Bank Stadium next year. SKOL, Vikings!"

O'Connell, who signed a contract extension with Minnesota Jan. 21, has gone 34-17 over his first three seasons at the helm — including leading the 2024 Vikings to a 14-3 regular-season finish ahead of their Wild Card loss to the Rams.

He noted after reaching the extension that being head coach of the Minnesota Vikings is "something I never take for granted."

"I want to express my sincere gratitude to the Wilf [Family Ownership Group] for their unwavering belief in what we are building together," O'Connell said. "None of this would be possible without the dedication of our coaches, players and support staff. I can't wait to get back to work with all of them as we continue to build upon the high standard we've set and the positive environment we've created."

It's that environment that has helped talented free agents — including the likes of 2024 defensive additions Andrew Van Ginkel, Jonathan Greenard and Blake Cashman — not only find a home in Minnesota but mesh seamlessly into the Vikings locker room and overall culture, as well as immediately contribute to on-field success.

Quarterback Sam Darnold also joined the Vikings as a free agent and helped lead the team on a nine-game win streak from Weeks 9-17. He explained how O'Connell emphasized connection from the get-go:

"We've had so many great events that he really spearheaded for us to be able to get to know one another," Darnold told Twin Cities media members in December. "He just has a really good outlook in terms of … what we've got to do on the field and what we've got to do off the field to continue to have success."

Tight end T.J. Hockenson, who recently wrapped up his third season with O'Connell, was asked about him after Minnesota secured its 13^th win at Seattle in Week 16.

"He's one of the best in the league, if not the best," Hockenson said. "We're very fortunate to be able to play for him. To get 13 wins in his first two out of three seasons is massive, and it just shows the type of program he set up, the type of culture he set up here.

"We've having fun over here playing under K.O.," Hockenson added.

The Vikings of course went on to defeat the division-rival Packers at home Week 17, marking the second-best victory total in franchise history.

Known across the league as one of the game's top offensive minds, O'Connell became the first head coach since at least 1950 to win 14 or more games in a season behind a quarterback who is in his first year with a team. Darnold logged career numbers with Minnesota, finishing the campaign with 4,300 passing yards, 35 passing touchdowns and a passer rating of 102.5.

O'Connell implemented a "1-and-0" mentality that organically became a motto for the 2024 Vikings.

While the adage can sometimes be dismissed as cliché coach speak, Darnold and his teammates sincerely adopted the mindset en route to shattering outside expectations.

"Wherever your feet are, you've got to be there. Let everything go. One play, one snap, one game," Hockenson explained. "That's really all you can — you want — to think about in this league. There are so many 'what-ifs.'

"So to be able to play where your feet are, and to be able to have a head coach that is implementing that, really talking about that every day, that resonates with us," Hockenson added.

Minnesota was 9-1 in one-possession games in 2024, the second-best mark league-wide, trailing only the Kansas City Chiefs (11-0). O'Connell, who is 26-9 in one-possession games (.743) as a head coach, surpassed NFL Legend John Madden (.732) for the second-best winning percentage in NFL history in one-score contests (minimum 25 games). Only Hall of Fame Head Coach Guy Chamberlin (.759, 22-7-7) boasts a better record.

Despite the 2024 Vikings being projected for an NFC North-low 6.5 wins, O'Connell led the team to clinch a playoff berth with four games remaining in the regular season. Minnesota more than doubled its projected win total, capturing 7.5 more victories above expectation — the most among all teams.

O'Connell's AP NFL Coach of the Year award joins NFL Coach of the Year honors from Pro Football Writers of America and Sporting News, as well as NFC Coach of the Year honors from The Committee of 101.

Thursday's honor means the world to not only O'Connell but, as he noted in his acceptance speech, his wife and four young children.

"There's not a day that goes by that my family doesn't really propel me to try to live out my dream and be a head coach in the National Football League and try to push this organization to where we want to go," O'Connell told Twin Cities media members via conference call following the NFL Honors ceremony. "They're a huge part of that. Their love and support fuels me to feel like I can go do that every day, while still trying to be the best dad I can be and the best husband I can be to Leah.

"And it's very important to me to try to be the best I can at all those things at all times — it might take away some sleep sometimes, and it might not necessarily be about me, but that's a heck of a life," O'Connell continued. "I feel so fortunate to be the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings, and it looks like that's going to continue for a few more years, and nobody's more excited about that than my family and Leah in the kids."

There's no denying, being named NFL Coach of the Year is special.

But it isn't the ultimate goal.

"There's more to do," O'Connell emphatically told media. "We're proud of the team that our players and coaches have built, the culture our players have built, our coaching staff's ready to rock-n-roll, and just to know this is going to be an ongoing journey.

"Every day, we go to work to try to bring that Lombardi Trophy to the Twin Cities," he added. "And that's what we're going to continue to try to do, whatever it takes, every single day from here on out."