O’Connell has handled tragedy gracefully.
“Kevin’s last couple months have been like every month I’ve ever known him,” Vikings offensive coordinator Wes Phillips said. “He’s the man. He’s got a great heart and is a great person to start. He cares about people and he’s extremely competitive and very smart. Really can’t say enough about how he handles difficult situations, stressful times. You just know what you’re going to get, day in and day out.
“[He] has a way about saying the right thing to the team, getting the right message to the staff,” Phillips continued. “Are you born with that stuff? I think, maybe. I think he’s just got a natural leadership and, obviously, playing the quarterback position for as long as he did, you kind of develop those things in a role like that.”
NFL seasons don’t follow a predetermined playbook. The 2010 Vikings season featured enough off-the-field news and never-seen-before circumstances that it deserves special recognition. The roof literally collapsed that season.
Kickoff to the 2024 Vikings season is two weeks away, but the buildup already has challenged the team’s ability to navigate difficult circumstances. O’Connell has had a lot to manage and process beyond football preparation.
“The excitement and joy I have coming to work every day is never going to change,” he said. “And if anything, it just gives you more motivation to attack it and make sure I’m doing my job as best as I possibly can for all these players and coaches.”