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Tennessee Vols legend Peyton Manning reveals the current NFL head coach he would want to play for

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Zach Ragan | Last updated Jan 13, 2025 1:11 PM ET

Tennessee Vols legend Peyton Manning was asked this past week which NFL head coach that's in the 2024/25 playoffs he would most want to play for.

Manning went with a bit of an under-the-radar choice -- Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell.

"I'm going with Kevin O'Connell, who I don't really know personally," said Manning.

"I have a lot of respect for the way [O'Connell coaches], I just like the way he does it," added Manning. "I'm just an observer, right? I think that moment when [Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold] jumps into the locker room and they celebrate and [O'Connell] is just kind of standing back watching, [that] tells you everything that you need to know about Kevin O'Connell, that hey, it's about the players."

I asked Peyton Manning which coach in these playoffs he'd most want to play for.

"I''m going with Kevin O'Connell."

KOC praise, Vikings praise, Darnold praise ahead of MNF game between the Rams-Vikings. EXCELLENT This Is Football with Peyton today. pic.twitter.com/fMExiu1kt8
— Kevin Clark (@bykevinclark) January 10, 2025

O'Connell has certainly done a terrific job in Minnesota. That's in large part because of his ability to develop quarterbacks.

Sam Darnold, for example, was an afterthought in the NFL after struggling with the New York Jets and Carolina Panthers before joining the San Francisco 49ers as a backup in 2023.

Darnold has been a revelation in 2024, passing for 4,319 passing yards and 35 touchdowns on his way to his first Pro Bowl appearance. Pretty impressive for a guy that was labeled as a bust after a couple of tough seasons as a starter for struggling franchises.

By the way, it's no surprise that Peyton went with the quarterback guru. Once a quarterback, always a quarterback.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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