Kevin O’Connell won the NFL’s Coach Of the Year award on Thursday. The win was unsurprising, as O’Connell and the Vikings exceeded preseason expectations by going 14-3. The preseason projections were low because the Vikings had to replace Kirk Cousins and start either rookie J.J. McCarthy or Sam Darnold.

O’Connell earned the notable award by beating out substantial competition. Dan Campbell of the Lions was the runner-up, while Andy Reid of the Chiefs finished in third place. Sean Payton of the Saints and Dan Quinn of the Commanders finished fourth and fifth, respectively.

That has earned Kevin O'Connell coach of the year honors, with 361 points and 25 of the 50 first-place votes. He beat out Lions coach Dan Campbell (283 points, 19 first-place votes), Chiefs coach Andy Reid (119,

After being named NFL Coach of the Year on Thursday night, Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell continued to praise quarterback Sam Darnold while alluding to the possibility that he’s headed elsewhere in free agency.

Kevin O'Connell was named AP Coach of the Year at the annual NFL Honors on Thursday night, and he couldn't have done it without a breakout season from quarterback Sam Darnold. O'Connell was asked about his Pro Bowl starting quarterback and the ongoing mystery surrounding the team's future plans at the position in New Orleans,