“Kevin O’Connell Left Out of Top-10 Head Coach Rankings: Is He Overlooked or Underrated?”
Minnesota Vikings fans have every reason to be thrilled with Kevin O’Connell’s impact since he took over as head coach in 2022. At just 39 years old, O’Connell has transformed the franchise, leading the team to new heights and showcasing his ability to rally players and maximize their potential. His leadership has clearly resonated with the team, earning him widespread respect. So it’s no surprise that when the Pro Football Writers Association named him 2024 Head Coach of the Year, and the Associated Press awarded him NFL Coach of the Year, O’Connell’s accomplishments were officially recognized.
Yet, despite this praise, there are still voices questioning his place among the NFL’s elite. A recent power ranking compiled by Mike Fanelli of Rotoballer ahead of the 2025 season may leave some scratching their heads. Vikings fans were likely expecting to see O’Connell ranked among the top tier of NFL head coaches, but instead, he landed at No. 11—a spot just outside the coveted top 10.
Fanelli’s ranking highlighted O’Connell’s impressive 34-17 record in his first three years as head coach, noting that the Vikings won 13 or more games in two of those seasons, including a standout performance last year with quarterback Sam Darnold under center. “There might not be a more underrated coach in the NFL than O’Connell,” Fanelli writes, acknowledging his ability to get the best out of players who, on paper, might not be seen as top-tier talent.
However, this recognition seems at odds with the ranking itself. For a coach who has won NFL Coach of the Year and led a team to 34 wins in 51 games, some might argue it’s hard to be truly “underrated.” Especially when you consider his success in getting impressive performances out of quarterbacks most teams would overlook.
The ranking places O’Connell behind other well-respected coaches like Detroit’s Dan Campbell and Philadelphia’s Nick Sirianni. It also gives considerable credit to past successes, placing long-established coaches such as Pete Carroll (Las Vegas) and Mike Tomlin (Pittsburgh) ahead of him.
Of course, power rankings are inherently subjective, but it’s hard to ignore the notion that Kevin O’Connell may be one of the most underrated coaches in the NFL today. As the 2025 season approaches, one thing is clear—O’Connell’s trajectory is bound to spark debate, and his spot outside the top 10 might be more a point of contention than a reflection of his true value.