Kevin O’Connell has won double the number of games he has lost as the Minnesota Vikings’ head coach and has made the playoffs twice in three years, even taking home Coach of the Year honors last season. He helped turn Sam Darnold into a starting-caliber quarterback, leading to him getting a big payday from the Seattle Seahawks.
Yet, he has struggled against one person in particular, and it just so happens to be the opposing head coach on Monday night.
Ben Johnson has had O’Connell’s number since taking over the Detroit Lions’ offensive coordinator job in 2022. He’s 5-1 against the Vikings, winning five straight and scoring 30 or more points in every win. Now, he is the head coach of the Chicago Bears.
O’Connell and Johnson have taken similar paths. Both played quarterback, although O’Connell had a longer career. They moved through the coaching ranks to become offensive coordinators and became known as some of the most innovative offensive minds in football. O’Connell won the Super Bowl in his final season with the Los Angeles Rams.
Both coaches are offensive masterminds, but O’Connell has more accolades. So why does Johnson have his number?
It’s well-known that Johnson loves his trick plays. It’s part of what makes him such a good offensive mind. He’s unpredictable, and his unique play design often leads to points. The Lions boasted a top-five run and pass game every year Johnson ran the offense, and he helped bring Detroit to the playoffs the past two years.
On the other hand, for all his success, O’Connell has felt one-dimensional. He can elevate a quarterback, but when it comes to running the football, his teams tend to struggle. The Vikings have never had an above-average rushing offense with O’Connell at the helm, showing a glaring weakness in his otherwise impressive track record.
However, the addition of Jordan Mason and a beefed-up O-line will help shore up that weakness, hopefully sooner rather than later. That should allow O’Connell to be more creative with his playcalling, and for the first time, he may have a better roster than Johnson.
Although Johnson is the opposing head coach, O’Connell will have to outsmart new Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen more than Johnson. Meanwhile, Johnson is one of the few coaches who have had success against Brian Flores.
Still, Johnson vs. O’Connell will be a big storyline on Monday night. O’Connell is 3-0 at Soldier Field and 5-1 versus the Bears as head coach, so one streak will be broken.
KOC might have the edge over his counterpart because of his experience. Every first-time head coach experiences growing pains. Minnesota’s improved run game should help even the playing field and might lead to O’Connell besting Johnson for the first time in three years.