Next Kick Could Mean Saints' Last Chance at NFC Title Recovery!

Kevin O’Connell is heading into his fifth season as the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings. With the general manager who came with him back in 2022 already fired this year, the pressure is on O’Connell to produce a good season in 2026. Minnesota fired Kwesi Adofo-Mensah back in January and made the unusual step of going through the start of free agency and the draft with an acting GM (Rob Brzezinski).

Minnesota’s Offense Holds the Key to O’Connell’s Long-Term Security It seems to leave O’Connell with a lot of say in what happens in Minnesota this offseason, which brings extra pressure to deliver. Any faults with the 2026 Vikings will have the finger of blame pointed directly at O’Connell. Sep 21, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell warms up with the team before the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at U.

S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images O’Connell must deliver a good season in 2026 for the Vikings, but what constitutes a good season?

The dream scenario is that everything works out perfectly and the Vikings hoist the Lombardi Trophy at SoFi Stadium next February. We aren’t in a Super Bowl-or-bust situation here, though; that would be unrealistic during an offseason dominated by trying to fix salary cap problems and a very quiet free agency in terms of additions. So what does O’Connell need to do to avoid the hot seat?