At the start of the 2025 NFL offseason, there was talk among league circles that Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell was a possible trade candidate. KFAN radio host and Vikings radio play-by-play voice Paul Allen didn’t like how it all went down, and at seems as if the Wilf family never truly entertained it.

O'Connell, 39, had recently expressed his desire to sign an extension with the Vikings. Reports had recently surfaced that the Vikings were planning to extend his contract, which was set to expire after the 2025 season. The Vikings are also expected to extend the contract of general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, via NFL Media .

O'Connell, 39, lands a contract extension after guiding Vikings to 14-3 record with Sam Darnold at quarterback.

EAGAN, Minn. — The Minnesota Vikings and head coach Kevin O'Connell have agreed to terms on a multi-year contract extension. The team announced the extension Tuesday afternoon, with owner and president Mark Wilf calling O'Connell an "innovative play caller, an excellent communicator, and strong leader."

The Minnesota Vikings announced Tuesday they have agreed to terms on a multi-year contract extension for head coach Kevin O’Connell.

The Vikings’ next big decision will come at the quarterback position this offseason when the team chooses between potentially re-signing Sam Darnold or giving the job to J.J. McCarthy, who missed the entire season due to a knee injury after the team took him with the 10th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Kevin O'Connell will not coach 2025 on a lame duck contract. The potential 2024 Coach of the Year has struck it rich with a long-term contract extension to keep him leading the Minnesota Vikings for years to come. Terms of the deal haven't been revealed just yet, but the Vikings have confirmed the agreement.

The Vikings were never going to trade O'Connell, who led the team to a 14-3 record and within one win of the No. 1 seed in the NFC.

O’Connell was named Sporting News Coach of the Year on Thursday after leading Minnesota to a 14-3 record, the second-best mark in franchise history. O’Connell received 14 votes, dominating the field over Dan Campbell of the Detroit Lions and Andy Reid of the Kansas City Chiefs (3 votes each).

The Minnesota Vikings had multiple coaches interview for promotions but only one is still in the running. The rest return.

Kevin O’Connell of the Vikings is The Sporting News’ 2024 Coach of the Year, and quarterback Sam Darnold is the publication’s Comeback Player of the Year. Both awards are peer-selected. More than 800 players voted this year.