Kevin O'Connell caps off 2024 season with another prestigious award that he deserved more than anyone

Kevin O'Connell wins AP Coach of the Year award

This doesn't come as much of a surprise for anyone, as O'Connell led the Vikings to a 14-3 record and inches away from winning the NFC North and the number one overall seed.

It wasn't as much that he led the team to 14 wins, but how he did it. Going into the season, the Vikings were projected to win just 6.5 games, and they over achieved by 7.5 wins, which is quite an accomplishment.

O'Connell also did so with Sam Darnold as his quarterback with J.J. McCarthy missing the entire season and left tackle Christian Darrisaw missing the majority of it with knee injuries.

O'Connell beat out four other coaches to win the award:

• Detroit Lions HC Dan Campbell
• Denver Broncos HC Sean Payton
• Washington Commanders HC Dan Quinn
• Kansas City Chiefs HC Andy Reid

This is O'Connell's first win of the AP award after also being nominated in 2022 when he led the Vikings to a 13-4 record.