NFL Rivals Respect Vikings Coaches, Not Their Team

The NFC North division should be among the best in the NFL this season. That will allow the Minnesota Vikings to be tested on a near-weekly basis, which they hope will have them well-tested come playoff time. Unfortunately, many rival coaches and execs around the league aren’t so sure.

Of course, the NFL has all sorts of respect for the MN Vikings coaching staff, adoration that begins and ends with head coach Kevin O’Connell. He and defensive coordinator Brian Flores have proven themselves to be arguably the best HC + DC tandem in franchise history.

Minnesota Vikings head coach showered with praise

And their colleagues around the NFL agree. The Athletic polled league coaches and executives on different topics heading into the season, and they posted the results in an article published Monday morning. Near the top of the list when it comes to offensive play-callers that strike fear in defenses, KOC was near the top of the list, at No. 4.

Only his mentors Sean McVay (25 votes) and Kyle Shanahan (18 votes), along with Bears new HC, Ben Johnson (14 votes), landed ahead of the Minnesota Vikings head coach.

O’Connell staved off Coen in the battle among McVay proteges, which is understandable due to O’Connell’s more extensive track record.

Jeff Howe – The Athletic

It is a bit curious that Johnson landed 14, despite being saddled with head coaching duties for the first time as a play caller. Obviously Minnesota fans will have a front row seat to how his start with the Bears will work out, when the Vikings open Week 1 on Monday Night Football in Chicago against the division rival Bears.

Brian Flores getting lots of love too

It wasn’t just O’Connell earning praise though. Brian Flores has always been known as a defensive menace, and his 16 votes trailed only Philadelphia Eagles coordinator Vic Fangio as the best defensive play caller in the game.

Flores continued to draw rave reviews for his unique ability to disguise looks, deploy defenders in a variety of ways and simply put offenses through the ringer.

“He’s a pain in the ass to go against,” another head coach said.

The Athletic

This may be Flores’ best opportunity to showcase his stuff yet. Not only does he have a ridiculously talented front seven to work with, but he’ll be showing his abilities with the secondary. The cornerback room is thin, and Jeff Okudah is being asked a lot of. If it works, then Flores is an absolute genius.

Where are the Minnesota Vikings players?

It’s all fine and well that those around the league love the Minnesota Vikings coaching staff. If their impact is going to be felt in the win column though, it will be because of players getting the job done. When looking at the polls about individual talents, virtually all Vikings are nowhere to be found.

Not shockingly the MVP race is comprised of only quarterbacks, and new signal caller J.J. McCarthy doesn’t garner consideration. When asked what quarterback a team would take to start from scratch though, he’s not present either. Somehow Drake Maye, Trevor Lawrence, Bo Nix, and Cam Ward all got votes though.

JJ McCarthy just threw one of the most insane TD's EVER in Vikings camp 😳

People are starting to compare him to Joe Burrow and a young Josh Allen 🔥

The NFL is in DANGER ⚠️ pic.twitter.com/seiIdINsgy

— Cam (@42Cyc) July 23, 2025

Related: Everyone’s Favorite New Viking Makes NFL Futures List

Four non-quarterbacks earned consideration in this coach/exec poll, as the best offensive player in the league. Ja’Marr Chase got the vast majority (17 votes), while Saquon Barkley came in second (10 votes). Justin Jefferson… just 2 votes.

On defense, the Vikings had no one worth of consideration, even though they had one of the best defenses in the league last season and despite multiple pro bowlers. Andrew Van Ginkel and Jonathan Greenard are nowhere to be found. Neither are newcomes Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen.

MN Vikings voted as likely to fall short of expectations

Maybe that is why the MN Vikings were voted a bit further down the poll as one of the six most-likely teams to fall short of expectations this season, landing four votes, trailing only the Lions, Commanders, Broncos, Bears and Dolphins.

Unlike some of the teams listed above them on the “likely to fall short of expectations” list, the Vikings did NOT receive ANY votes for NFL teams “likely to exceed expectations”.

It certainly seems like this Minnesota Vikings team is being a bit overlooked. They are unlikely to win more games than last year, and there is a level of uncertainty with a young new quarterback. Doubting them, especially with the leadership in place though, seems foolish at best.