When you are a head coach in the NFL, you have a lot of connections throughout the league. That holds true for Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell.

We got confirmation earlier in the week that he’s texted with NFL insider and former reporter for The Athletic, Dianna Russini, and he has more in his Rolodex, just like anyone in his position would.

Where the intrigue about those connections comes into play is from the comments they will make in interviews.

Kevin O’Connell praises New York Jets GM Darren Mougey

We know that O’Connell has connections with the New York Jets. He played there briefly before his NFL career was over. Even before that, he was college roomates with the new general manager of the Jets, Darren Mougey.

He talked about Mougey during an interview ahead of the American Century Championship this weekend.

“Most of the time I was complimenting him on whether it was a great draft they had, or how they handled some of their internal situations there — getting their running back (Breece Hall re-signed),” O’Connell said.

“I just think the plan that he’s had has been really well thought-out. It’s one thing — a lot of teams put the time and the energy in to have as much good planning as you can — but it’s about the execution of those plans. The way Darren has gone about it doesn’t surprise me.”

Mougey was hired back in January of 2025, and he has been very busy, trading away defensive tackle Quinnen Williams and cornerback Sauce Gardner for three first-round picks, a second-round pick, wide receiver Adonai Mitchell, and nose tackle Mazi Smith. It’s a ballsy move to make those moves and start another rebuild, but there is faith from O’Connell in what Mougey is doing.

“I know there’s not a day Darren shows up to work that he doesn’t feel prepared — and I think that’s proving to be the case,” O’Connell said. “He’s not afraid to make difficult decisions, and I think that’s because it’s in alignment with the process that he has. He’s attempting to execute a vision that he has for that organization. As a former Jet, it’s always good to see the organization in good hands — and they certainly are with Darren and A.G. (head coach Aaron Glenn).”

It’s cool to see O’Connell praise someone, because you get a lot of honesty out of him without getting a lot of political-type answers we are accustomed to hearing.