(Live Feed – NFL Awards Season)
Hey everyone, coming to you live with some exciting news out of Minnesota! It’s been a HUGE week for the Vikings organization, with multiple members receiving major award nominations.
O’Connell’s Big Week: It’s been quite a whirlwind for Kevin O’Connell. Just this week, he agreed to a contract extension with the Minnesota Vikings on Tuesday and received recognition from the 101 Awards on Wednesday.
Coach of the Year Finalist: But the good news doesn’t stop there! This morning, The Associated Press announced that Kevin O’Connell is one of five finalists for the prestigious Coach of the Year Award!
More Vikings Honorees: And that’s not all! Two other Vikings are also finalists in their respective categories.
- Brian Flores, the Vikings’ Defensive Coordinator, is a finalist for Assistant Coach of the Year.
- Sam Darnold, the Vikings’ quarterback, is a finalist for Comeback Player of the Year.
A Season to Remember: These nominations are a testament to the Vikings’ incredible season. O’Connell, Flores, and Darnold played crucial roles in the team achieving a 14-3 record, the second-most wins in franchise history, more than doubling their preseason projected win total of 6.5.
Flores’ Defensive Impact: Brian Flores’ innovative strategies helped the Vikings tie for the NFL lead with 33 takeaways and rank fifth in points against.
Darnold’s Resurgence: Sam Darnold turned in the finest season of his career, and one of the best quarterback seasons in Vikings history.
Award Ceremony Details: The winners will be revealed at NFL Honors, which begins at 8 p.m. (CT) on Thursday, February 6th, at the Saenger Theatre in New Orleans. The show will be broadcast on FOX and NFL Network.
Full List of Finalists: Here’s a look at the other finalists in each category:
- AP Coach of the Year Finalists:
- Dan Campbell, Lions
- Kevin O’Connell, Vikings
- Sean Payton, Broncos
- Dan Quinn, Commanders
- Andy Reid, Chiefs
- AP Assistant Coach of the Year Finalists:
- Joe Brady, Bills
- Vic Fangio, Eagles
- Brian Flores, Vikings
- Aaron Glenn, Lions
- Ben Johnson, Lions
- AP Comeback Player of the Year Finalists:
- Joe Burrow, Bengals
- Sam Darnold, Vikings
- J.K. Dobbins, Chargers
- Christian Gonzalez, Patriots
- Damar Hamlin, Bills
(Note: Finalists are listed alphabetically by last name.)
We’ll be sure to keep you updated on the results of the NFL Honors. Back to you in the studio!
