Latest NFL news proves Vikings HC Kevin O’Connell is one of the best in the NFL at his position

The Minnesota Vikings continue to thrive in multiple ways this season, with their fourth NFC Player of the Week award.

Tyler Forness — NFL & College Football News Writer
Add as preferred source on Google
Oct 4, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell speaks with Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison (3) before the game against the Miami Dolphins at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Oct 4, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell speaks with Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison (3) before the game against the Miami Dolphins at U.S. Bank Stadium. Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

Through the first five games of his fifth season as head coach, Kevin O’Connell has done a great job leading the Minnesota Vikings with a 48-25 record. One thing that has stood out is how many players have been named NFC Player of the Week. For his Week 5 performance, cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. is the latest to be named NFC Defensive Player of the Week.

Byron Murphy Jr. wins NFC Defensive Player of the Week

It’s an impressive award for Murphy to win, as he secured two interceptions and a tackle for loss against the Saints. It helped that quarterback Tyler Shough threw two passes right to him, but he took advantage of how the game was going.

What’s really impressive isn’t so much that Murphy has won the award, which is his first with the Vikings; it’s the 22nd time a player has won an award with O’Connell as the head coach. Think about that for a second. Yes, O’Connell has a 48-25 record with five-game winning streaks in all five seasons, which has happened only twice in NFL history.

Even though only five of the 22 award winners were on the offensive side of the football, it’s very noteworthy that 30.1% of games have resulted in a Player of the Week award. That mark may never be topped. Even with the struggles they have had offensively, you can’t deny that he’s done a great job coaching this team.

Here is the full list of 22 players to earn Player of the Week honors under O’Connell

  • 2022: K Greg Joseph, Week 4 (Special Teams)
  • 2022: P Ryan Wright, Week 6 (Special Teams)
  • 2022: EDGE Za’Darius Smith, Week 8 (Defensive)
  • 2022: WR Justin Jefferson, Week 10 (Offensive)
  • 2022: RB Kene Nwangwu, Week 12 (Special Teams)
  • 2022: QB Kirk Cousins, Week 15 (Offense)
  • 2022: K Greg Joseph, Week 16 (Special Teams)
  • 2023: ILB Jordan Hicks, Week 6 (Defensive)
  • 2023: S Cam Bynum, Week 7 (Defensive)
  • 2023: QB Josh Dobbs, Week 9 (Offensive)
  • 2023: ILB Ivan Pace Jr., Week 14 (Defensive)
  • 2024: EDGE Jonathan Greenard, Week 3 (Defensive)
  • 2024: QB Sam Darnold, Week 14 (Offensive)
  • 2024: EDGE Andrew Van Ginkel, Week 16 (Defensive)
  • 2025: QB J.J. McCarthy, Week 1 (Offensive)
  • 2025: CB Isaiah Rodgers, Week 3 (Defensive)
  • 2025: DT Levi Drake Rodriguez, Week 9 (Special Teams)
  • 2025: S Harrison Smith, Week 17 (Defensive)
  • 2026: CB Isaiah Rodgers, Week 2 (Special Teams)
  • 2026: WR Myles Price, Week 3 (Special Teams)
  • 2026: K Will Reichard, Week 4 (Special Teams)
  • 2026: CB Byron Murphy Jr., Week 5 (Defense)
Play A to Z Daily Games

Related Articles