Kevin O'Connell (American football)

Kevin William O'Connell, known as "KO", is an American football coach and a former player. He was born on May 25, 1985, in Knoxville, Tennessee. His family moved around a lot because his father worked for the FBI. Kevin went to high school in Carlsbad, California at La Costa Canyon High School.

After high school, he played football for San Diego State University from 2004 to 2007. In 2008, he was chosen by the New England Patriots in the NFL draft. He played as a quarterback for five seasons in the NFL with several teams, including the New York Jets, Detroit Lions, Miami Dolphins, and San Diego Chargers.

When his playing career ended, Kevin became a coach. He worked with players and teams like the Cleveland Browns, San Francisco 49ers, Washington Redskins, and Los Angeles Rams. With the Rams, he helped the team win Super Bowl LVI as an offensive coordinator. In 2022, he became the head coach for the Minnesota Vikings. In his first season, he led the Vikings to win the NFC North division title. In 2024, he was named the AP NFL Coach of the Year.

Early life and education

Kevin O'Connell was born on May 25, 1985, in Knoxville, Tennessee. His dad, Bill O'Connell, worked for the FBI and played football for Villanova University near Philadelphia. Because of his dad's job, Kevin and his older sister moved often. They lived in New York and later in Carlsbad, California, close to San Diego.

In middle school, Kevin switched from being a running back to a quarterback. He went to La Costa Canyon High School, where he played football and basketball. In football, he earned many honors in his final year. He finished high school in 2003 and later graduated from San Diego State University in 2007 with a degree in political science.

College playing career

Kevin O'Connell began his college football journey at San Diego State University in 2003. As a young player, he waited his turn to play while learning from his teammates. By 2004, he started getting more chances to show his skills, and in his first real game start, he helped lead the team to some exciting wins.

In 2005, O'Connell became the main quarterback and played in every game. He had some great moments, like throwing four touchdown passes in one game. The following years, he kept improving and became a key player for the team. By the time he finished in 2007, he had set several school records and was a team leader for all four years.

Professional playing career

Kevin O'Connell played in important college games before joining the NFL. He was chosen by the New England Patriots in the 2008 draft and played a little in the preseason but didn’t stay long with the team.

Later, he joined the New York Jets and became a team captain in one game. He had some injuries and moved between teams, including the Detroit Lions, Miami Dolphins, and San Diego Chargers, before his playing career ended in 2012.

Career statistics

NFL

College

Coaching career

Kevin O'Connell began his full-time coaching career in 2015 when he became the quarterbacks coach for the Cleveland Browns. He later joined the San Francisco 49ers in 2016 and then the Washington Redskins in 2017, where he became offensive coordinator in 2019.

In 2020, O'Connell moved to the Los Angeles Rams as their offensive coordinator. In his second season, the team won the Super Bowl LVI against the Cincinnati Bengals.

O'Connell became the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings in 2022. In his first season, he led the team to a 13–4 record, tying for the second-most wins by a rookie head coach in NFL history. Despite some challenges in the following seasons, O'Connell continued to guide the Vikings, earning the 2024 Head Coach of the Year award from the Pro Football Writers Association and the AP NFL Coach of the Year honor.

Head coaching record

Personal life

Kevin O'Connell and his wife have four children together. He attends Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church in Edina, Minnesota. O'Connell often talks about how hope and faith are important for leaders in football, and he says his faith has shaped how he handles tough times.