The Minnesota Vikings hired Kevin O’Connell over Jim Harbaugh.
The decision four winters ago will spice up the duo’s first-time head-coaching duel Thursday night in the Kroenke Dome.
In reality, it wasn’t a very spicy decision.
Harbaugh is a great head coach. But O’Connell was a better fit for the Vikings, despite O’Connell being new to head coaching.
The situation turned out well for both coaches, to say nothing of the Vikings, the Los Angeles Chargers and the University of Michigan.
Heading to Michigan, where Harbaugh remained after Vikings ownership and a newly hired general manager hired O’Connell — fresh off a Super Bowl wins with the Los Angeles as an assistant to Sean McVay — was the coach’s best recruiting class.
Two collegiate seasons later, those recruits, headed by quarterback J.J. McCarthy and defensive tackle Mason Graham, seized the school’s first undisputed national football title since 1948.
By then, the Chargers were looking for a head coach.
Harbaugh got the job, pairing him with Justin Herbert.
So while it must’ve stung Harbaugh not to get the Vikings’ job, which he interviewed for at Minnesota’s request, he got himself a national championship ring and a franchise quarterback who gives him a chance to get a Super Bowl ring.
It’s true that “Chargering” is one of the most confounding forces in the NFL.Someday, it might break Harbaugh and dump him alongside other football greats such as Antonio Gates, Kellen Winslow Sr. and LaDainian Tomlinson who, to no avail, chased Super Bowl bling with the franchise.
But Herbert was worth it, however this turns out.
When Harbaugh arrived in January 2024, Herbert had held the starting job since Week 2 of his rookie year in 2020, except for missing four games in ‘23 with a broken finger. He had five years left on his contract. He was a top-10 QB heading toward his prime years.
Harbaugh and Herbert had a strong first season together, lifting the franchise from 6-11 to 11-6.
A defense coordinated by Harbaugh hire Jesse Minter allowed the fewest points in the NFL.
The “JH Duo” is having a rougher ride in Year 2. Herbert has taken way too many hard hits, largely because injuries sidelined L.A.s’ two standout offensive tackles.
Giving Harbaugh a taste of what he’s up against, these Chargers have devolved fast into an anti-Harbaugh team.
Sunday, their blockers were bullied something bad. Chargers guards and center Bradley Bozeman, a trio whose job was made more difficult by subpar play by both offensive tackles, looked enfeebled against Indianapolis Colt tackle DeForest Buckner.
Was Buckner, 31, still ticked that Tom Telesco and John Spanos – in the franchise’s final draft as the San Diego Chargers — bypassed him at No. 3 and instead took Ohio State end Joey Bosa?
Buckner’s agent will want to send the game film to Pro Football Hall of Fame voters.
The Chargers’ frontline defenders didn’t far any better than the Chargers’ blockers.
Colts three-time All-Pro guard Quenton Nelson and mates knocked back linemen and linebackers. A stampede played out on Kroenke Dome’s fake grass, the Colts going for 5.2 yards per carry and winning 38-24.
Lately, Harbaugh and Minter are getting a taste of what their Michigan opponents endured.
Over the past three games their defense, inspiring no cries of “Hail to the victors valiant,” has allowed 140 rushing yards per game on an NFL-high 5.8 yards per carry.
Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell questions a call to line judge Tom Eaton (87) during the second half of an NFL wild card playoff football game against the Rams on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
O’Connell’s Vikings (3-3) will be antsy on Thursday, too — assuming they’ve recovered from Sunday’s loss to the physical Philadelphia Eagles.
They’re last in the NFC North.
However their current teams fare this season, Harbaugh and O’Connell figure to retain their jobs for at least another year. Harbaugh, 61, is under contract through 2029, gets top NFL dollars and hired general manager Joe Hortiz.
O’Connell, 40, went 34-19 through his first three seasons, earning him a multi-year extension announced in January.
For the former San Diego State quarterback, who backed up Tom Brady in New England, a lot is riding on his large bet on Harbaugh’s former Michigan QB JJ McCarthy, the Vikings’ first-round pick in 2024.
O’Connell doubled down on that bet last offseason, allowing Sam Darnold and backup Daniel Jones to leave in free agency. Both veterans are having good seasons this year, with the Seattle Seahawks and the AFC-leading Colts, respectively.
McCarthy, 22, sat out last season with a knee injury suffered in his first NFL preseason. This year, an ankle injury has limited him to two starts. His NFL aptitude remains a mystery. But he’s a long ways from matching Herbert.