KEVIN O’CONNELL – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Vikes Could Announce Starting QB Just Past Mid-August

Posted on July 8, 2026July 8, 2026 by David Shama

Seems like everyone in town wants to know when Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell will name his starting quarterback for the regular season opening game against the Packers on September 13.

The veterans report to training camp at TCO Performance Center on July 28. On August 18 or 23 O’Connell could announce his choice between Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy.

The Vikings will host the Ravens for scrimmages on August 19 and 20 at TCO Performance Center. This is prior to their August 22 preseason home game against the Baltimore-based team. Speculation has the Ravens fielding a top 10 or even top five defense in 2026 and that unit should offer a challenge to Minnesota’s quarterbacks and offense.

After spring practices and activities, neither Murray, the 28-year-old in his first season with the Vikings, or the 23-year-old McCarthy in his third with the club, was able to claim the starting job. The two split snaps in the spring, likely to the frustration of Murray who was a seven-year starter with the Cardinals and trying to learn a new offense. McCarthy missed his entire first season and started 10 games last season.

Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell image by David Shama — Kevin O’Connell

It seems highly plausible O’Connell will want to designate his starter by the second half of August, rather than wait until even closer to the regular season opener. The eve of the scrimmages, Tuesday, August 18, could be the date O’Connell names his starter. Or he might evaluate the play of his quarterbacks in the Raven scrimmages and game, then announce a decision on Sunday, August 23.

O’Connell wouldn’t commit to a timeline last month. “…But those guys…know we have a plan in place to make sure that the decision we make is going to be about what’s best for the Minnesota Vikings. The timeline of that does involve making sure we get our starter ready to go.

“We want to make sure by the time we play the Green Bay Packers that there’s been ample time to have the best possible offense we can have to help our football team. The quarterback is going to play a big role in that. …”

Murray is the overwhelming betting favorite to emerge as the starter. Although the Cardinals gave up on Murray, his resume and profile instill optimism among those who want to feel it. In 2019 he was the Pro Football Offensive Rookie of the Year. Twice in his career he was a Pro Bowler.

Murray, though, at times struggled in his career with the Cardinals and even this spring when learning a new system and playing with new teammates. How well he absorbs and executes Minnesota’s sophisticated and challenging offense will go far in determining his status.

Learning can be accelerated by players who have the capacity and commitment. The Vikings signed veteran Carson Wentz on August 24 last year. On September 21 he led the team to a regular season win over the Bengals.

Murray has a career passing rating of 92.2 which is above average for a veteran quarterback. Four times in his career he has thrown for over 3,500 yards. In 2,941 passing attempts he has totaled 121 TD passes with 60 interceptions. Murray is known for his arm strength and velocity, and running skills, but the Cardinals gave up on him because of inconsistency, an injury history and expensive contract.

It will be fascinating to see how Murray fits in with the Vikings, or if he does. O’Connell is known as a quarterback coaching guru and among the questions of intrigue about Murray is building some of the offense around his running ability.

Listed at 5-10 and 207 pounds. Murray is an electric runner. There’s an impressive list of NFL quarterbacks, past and present, who were extraordinary at scrambling and running. But Murray invites comparisons with Michael Vick, considered by authorities as perhaps the best of them all.

New Vikings assistant head coach Frank Smith likely will play a role in the use of Murray to win games with his feet as well as his arms. Smith is known for his running game prowess. His previous stops include with the Chargers where he was first running game coordinator/offensive line coach, and then offensive coordinator. Smith was voted by NFL players as the top offensive coordinator in 2023.

If Murray doesn’t fulfill predictions, he will win the Minnesota starting job, it will be a major career setback. He’s on a one-year contract with the Vikings and is playing in 2026 for his next deal. A failed season could also end perceptions around the NFL that he is a starting quarterback caliber player.

The drama for him starts shortly.

Worth Noting

The University of Minnesota’s M Club, one of Americas’ s largest and oldest varsity letterwinner clubs, will induct 10 new Hall of Fame members on October 2 in a ceremony at Huntington Bank Stadium. But not included among the inductees is Minnesota native Matt Spaeth who won the John Mackey award in 2006 as the most outstanding tight end in college football.

Spaeth, a two-time All-Big Ten selection who holds the school career record for tight ends with 1,293 receiving yards, was a four-year starter for the Golden Gophers. It’s puzzling why he has been overlooked so long for Hall of Fame selection.

Brian Truitt of USA Today listed 25 all-time movies to celebrate the 250th anniversary of America last week. Two were sports flicks: “Field of Dreams” and “Rocky.” I’d toss in “The Natural”, too. Who have you got?

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Don’t Expect Solo Act from New Vikings General Manager

Posted on June 2, 2026June 2, 2026 by David Shama

The Vikings have a new general manager in 42-year-old Nolan Teasley. Don’t expect him to be an authoritarian leader.

Fans have illusions about NFL general managers as solo operators of a franchise’s personnel, including college drafts and free agent signings. The public frequently assigns too much blame or credit to the work of those who carry the general manager badge.

Yup, there are a few general managers in the league who are more like solo acts. Cowboys owner/GM Jerry Jones, Rams boss Les Snead and Eagles wheeler-dealer Howie Roseman come to mind.

But collaboration is more the norm in NFL front offices than kingpin. Even before tomorrow’s press conference to introduce Teasley, Vikings voices are trumpeting it will be kumbaya style at Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center.

Teasley, in his first assignment as a general manager after being assistant GM with the Seahawks, is expected to work arm-in-arm with head coach Kevin O’Connell and executive vice president of football operations Rob Brzezinski, the franchise’s capologist.

Statements issued by the Vikings yesterday offer testimony to the vision.

Vikings owner Mark Wilf, 2025, image by David Shama — Mark Wilf

Vikings owner/president Mark Wilf said: “Putting Nolan together with Kevin O’Connell and Rob Brzezinski gives us three strong leaders with complementary skillsets.”

Owner/chair Zygi Wilf said: “We are confident this dynamic structure of Nolan, Kevin and Rob is the best outcome for the Minnesota Vikings.”

Teasley said: “I look forward to working alongside Kevin O’Connell, Rob Brzezinski, our coaching staff, personnel department and the entire organization as we build a team Vikings fans can be proud of and one that competes for championships year after year.”

Both O’Connell and Brzezinski echoed the collaboration theme, mentioning how they look forward to working with their new front office teammate who started as an intern in 2013 with the Seahawks and rose to positions of authority in the organization. In 13 seasons with the organization the team made the playoffs nine times, played in three Super Bowls and won two.

While the Vikings had an analytics background man in former GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, Teasley’s reputation is that of a talented personnel evaluator of college and pro talent. In Seattle he oversaw football ops while working for his boss John Schneider in various aspects of player acquisition and team building, per the Vikings.

Teasley also assisted with roster construction and integrating data and analytics within the franchise’s scouting process. He managed collaboration between the scouting staff, research and analytics departments and the coaches.

Collaboration aside, there will be parts of the operation and times when Teasley will make his own decisions and have the final word. That’s the nature of his responsibilities and for that he will ultimately be judged.

Schneider expressed his confidence in Teasley in a statement released by the Vikings. “Nolan Teasley is a direct reflection of our football process. He came in as an intern and outworked, outlearned, and outgrew every role we gave him – and now he’s a general manager in this league.

“That doesn’t happen by accident. It happens because of who he is as a person and how he approaches everything he does. The Vikings aren’t just getting a great football mind. They’re getting an exceptional human being – ego-free, values-driven, and one of the best communicators I’ve been around in this business. He sees the game clearly, he connects with people authentically, and he makes every room better.”

Brzezinski, BTW, was reportedly on the short list of candidates for the GM job. He has been a loyal and accomplished part of the organization since 1999 and in his present position since 2014. His strategic salary cap management approach might be the best in the NFL. He has negotiated more than $1 billion in contracts and his relationships with player agents is invaluable to the Vikings.

The Wilf ownership group is known for its loyalty to employees and willingness to spend money appropriately. This seems like an opportune time to reward Brzezinski with a thank you note and I.O.U.

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Kyler Murray Mystery Maybe Decided Prior to Training Camp

Posted on May 16, 2026May 16, 2026 by David Shama

There is no off-season for Vikings fans. Speculation swirls now on who the Vikings starting quarterback will be in 2026. And when will that be known.

J.J. McCarthy’s disappointing 2025 season and the acquisition in March of Kyler Murray has caused a buzz from Vikings fans. Head coach Kevin O’Connell is on record as wanting competition for the starting job, but it seems reasonable that before Murray signed on as a free agent he was assured of a sold (or better than that) opportunity to be No.1.

After all, the 28-year-old Murray is a seven seasons NFL veteran, while the 23-year-old McCarthy’s pro experience totals one season. Although the Cardinals gave up on Murray, his resume and profile instill optimism among those who want to feel it. In 2019 he was the Pro Football Offensive Rookie of the Year. Twice in his career he was a Pro Bowler.

As the Vikings go through meetings and on field practices prior to the start of training camp (expected in late July) it’s certain O’Connell will learn a lot about what he has in Murray who has underwhelmed as a pro with inconsistent play and injuries.

The coach will see how quickly and effectively his new quarterback picks up the complex Viking offense. That’s no small adjustment for a quarterback who drew past criticism for his study habits with the Cardinals.

Murray will also need to learn how to play more under center than in Arizona where he was in the shotgun formation. O’Connell likes to use his quarterback under center at times to promote play-action as part of his West Coast offense.

That’s not to suggest the head coach and quarterback whisperer won’t tailor some of the offense around his new player. Listed at 5-10 and 207 pounds, Murray has quickness of foot and running ability that can bedevil opponents. Murray will need to show he can become adept with whatever new offensive wrinkles are put in place.

Before training camp there will be minicamp next month where O’Connell will evaluate how the former Oklahoma Sooner quarterback performs with his receivers. That list of pass catchers, of course, includes superstar WR Justin Jefferson who seems to have the head coach’s “ear.”

Then, too, there will be an awareness by O’Connell and his coaches about how Murray is fitting in with his teammates. Does he have rapport with them? Is he emerging as a team leader?

It will be much clearer to the Vikings staff, even before spring turns to summer, what they have in Murray who has a career passing rating of 92.2 which is in the average range. Four times in his career he has thrown for over 3,500 yards. In 2,941 passing attempts he has totaled 121 TD passes with 60 interceptions.

O’Connell may well have a good handle in the next few weeks whether Murray will be his guy and build on his stats and resume in 2026.

Worth Noting

Anthony Edwards after his Timberwolves lost their playoff series in six games to the Spurs: “I mean, I just tip my hat to them. They were just a better team.”

In the 139-109 loss last night to the Spurs at Target Center, Edwards scored a team-high 24 points and had three steals. The 24-year-old’s 17 career playoff games with 20-plus points and 2-plus steals are the fifth most in NBA Playoff history by a player before the age of 25.

The Spurs had a 60-29 rebounding advantage in the blowout win.

Despite losing an overtime series ending game on Wednesday night, Wild fans can be elated about the team’s future. Minnesota lost a 3-1 lead with less than four minutes remaining in regulation against the Avs who went on to win 4-3 in OT in Game 5 of their Stanley Cup second round playoff match up.

Wild star forward Kirill Kaprizove — Kirill Kaprizov

The Wild’s roster is the most talented in franchise history. A quality center and better defensive depth are needed but there’s a lot to like including rookie goalie Jesper Wallstedt, and a pair of superstars in forward Kirill Kaprizov and defenseman Quinn Hughes (who ownership is determined to re-sign). This team is among the best in the NHL and a championship window is in place for several years.

The Wild lost to a team that is likely the best in the NHL. A Minnesota nemesis was Avs superstar forward Nathan MacKinnon. He scored the tying goal sending the game into overtime and it was a shot most mortals can’t make.

The Wild can enjoy advancing to the second round for the first time since 2015, defeating a Stars team that is outstanding and delivering a competitive series with the Avs.

Look for the University of Minnesota, including athletic director Mark Coyle and head football coach P.J. Fleck, to make a reasonable and fair decision regarding Drake Lindsey after things are sorted out with the starting quarterback’s reported recent arrest in Arkansas for underage drinking and possessing fake identification. Lindsey, BTW, turns 21 on August 5.

FOX 9 sports reporter and anchor Dawn Mitchell will have a feature on Minnesota sports icon Dick Jonckowski Tuesday with the segment scheduled to air about 10:15 p.m.

Ross Bernstein, the Minnesota-based sports author and nationally sought public speaker, announced good news on LinkedIn earlier this week. He recently had his last chemotherapy treatment and is upbeat about not having a cancer recurrence. He’s been through a 10-month ordeal after doctors discovered tennis ball size tumors in his colon and liver. In college he wanted to play for the hockey Gophers, but when that didn’t work, he became the team’s mascot, Goldy Gopher.

The Capital Club breakfast group will hear about “The Booming Business of Golf” on Wednesday, May 27 at Mendakota Country Club. The sport is experiencing a resurgence locally and nationally. Golf experts Laura Frick, Championship Director KMPG Women’s PGA Championship, Jon Mays, Executive Director Minnesota Golf Association; and Jennifer Hines, Assistant Tournament Director 3M Open, will discuss the trend. For more information, contact Patrick Klinger, patrick@agilemarketingco.com.

Longtime Creative Charters owner Steve Erban has been flying Golden Gophers fans to games for decades. He’s more than impressed with Niko Medved, who took over as men’s basketball coach about 14 months ago. He’s predicting 14 Minnesota wins on the 20-game regular season schedule for 2026-2027!

The company that started in 1993 will offer its first fan trip to see the football Gophers play Washington in Seattle on September 26. The trip has a lot to offer including a three-hour gameday “Sailgate” on the Spirit of Seattle, with the boat docking near Husky Stadium. The Gophers and Huskies haven’t played each other since 1977.

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