The Minnesota Vikings dropped one spot in the NFLPA’s yearly player survey, moving up to No. 2 behind the Miami Dolphins from first place. However, one thing they did well was hire a head coach, as Kevin O’Connell came in second.
Only Andy Reid of the Kansas City Chiefs, who has a considerably lengthier career, was placed higher than him.
According to the NFLPA survey released on February 28, “Minnesota and Miami have separated themselves into their own tier in terms of what it means to run a world-class NFL workplace.” “Kevin O’Connell is the second-highest rated head coach in the NFL according to the players.”
- Kevin O’Connell ranks fifth overall in terms of time efficiency, according to 98% of players.
- The players think Kevin O’Connell is really open to hearing what the locker room has to say (1st overall)
Every category saw the Vikings place in the top 10, with the exception of the Food/Cafeteria, Weight Room, and Training Staff categories, where they received the lowest scores. In those categories, they placed seventh, eighth, and ninth respectively.
According to the NFLPA’s second annual study, “The Vikings continue to impress across all categories.” The Vikings’ outstanding facilities, highly regarded personnel, and ownership’s unwavering dedication to giving players an elite experience all contribute to the Vikings’ players’ positive work environment.
According to a survey, Vikings ownership is more willing to spend.
Under owner Zygi Wilf (20-14 under O’Connell), the Vikings have a 143-164 record. Wilf has controlled the franchise since 2005. With seven postseason visits throughout his 19-year tenure, that.466 winning percentage is ranked 12th in the NFL at that time, according to Stathead.
However, Wilf has invested a great deal of time, money, and effort into improving the team’s facilities.
“Vikings players give club owner Zygi Wilf a 9.7/10 rating for his willingness to invest in the facilities (2nd overall),” the Wilf survey entry states.
In addition to employing O’Connell, the Wilf family invested $1.1 billion in U.S. Bank Stadium, the Vikings’ new home, which opened in 2016. In 2018, the Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center, their clinic located in Eagan, Minnesota, received an additional $90 million.
When the family took over, all of this was part of their plan.
In 2018, team president Mark Wilf stated, “Obviously, the number one driver is championships,” while speaking at the “Dealmakers in Sports” conference. However, we aimed to be a superior, family-focused company. This entails becoming a member of the community, experiencing what it’s like to be a fan, and winning championships.
“We believe we’ve improved it to a first-rate franchise—truly one of the best,”
Kevin O’Connell Cannot Hide the Things Vikings Need to ImproveÂ
The Vikings’ training staff’s rating is primarily affected by statistics; they rank 13th in the league with 88% of players believing they receive adequate one-on-one attention. Additionally, players ranked the staff’s contribution to their success on the field as “moderately,” placing them tenth.
The cafeteria was the only other area where Minnesota did not receive an A, coming in ninth for both flavor and freshness of food.
These scores represent modest declines from the NFLPA’s 2023 survey.
The Wilfs still have a problem with the Vikings, and O’Connell for that matter, despite their financial commitment and lip devotion. That’s the Super Bowl victory. With just one postseason participation in the previous four seasons, they haven’t been all that close lately.
