Vikings' O'Connell dismisses trade rumors: 'This is where I want to be'
Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell insists he wants to remain in Minnesota after a report Sunday suggested multiple teams are considering trying to trade for him after the season.
"I'm not really interested in addressing the rumors or speculation," O'Connell said Monday, according to Will Ragztz of Sports Illustrated. "What I can tell you is I love this team, I love everything about this organization, and this is where I want to be. This is where I want to keep coaching and leading."
O'Connell's contract expires following the 2025 season. He and general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah both signed four-year deals in 2022. Vikings owner Mark Wilf said in August that the club will target extension talks with O'Connell and Adofo-Mensah after the campaign, according to ESPN's Kevin Seifert.
Minnesota finished the campaign 14-3, tied for the second-best record in the NFC. After losing to the Detroit Lions in the season finale, the Vikings travel to Los Angeles to face the Rams in the wild-card round.
O'Connell has helped Sam Darnold resurrect his career this season. The 27-year-old was named the starting quarterback after J.J. McCarthy suffered a season-ending knee injury in training camp. Darnold threw for 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns this season, both marks ranking fifth among all signal-callers.
Minnesota's offense finished fifth in dropback success rate and ninth in points per contest.
The wild-card matchup is scheduled for 8:15 p.m. ET on Monday.