KEVIN O’CONNELL – Page 2 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Ads, Interview & Golf Put KOC in News Prior to Camp

Posted on July 14, 2026July 14, 2026 by David Shama

The Vikings don’t open training camp until July 26 (rookies and quarterbacks) but head coach Kevin O’Connell is making news.

O’Connell will be filming TV commercials this week for Blaze Credit Union as part of his new endorsement partnership with the Minnesota-based, member-owned, not-for-profit financial cooperative. The ads will be seen around the time the Vikings’ regular season begins in September.

The coach will also make radio commercials and be seen on billboards. A Blaze spokesperson wrote that there is also a “charity component” to the partnership but no community events are scheduled yet.

“We chose to partner with O’Connell, because of his character and reputation,” Dan Stoltz, Blaze CEO and president, said in an announcement statement. “He is a genuine person who knows what it takes to lead both on and off the field. He treats every individual with sincerity and respect which aligns with Blaze to the core.”

Blaze (a Sports Headliners advertiser) is known for working with prominent and high character local sports figures including Brock Faber, Tony Oliva and Lindsay Whalen. Before leaving the Vikings, quarterback Kirk Cousins was a celebrity endorser for Blaze.

O’Connell was a guest last week on the “Dan Patrick Show” seen and heard nationally on TV and radio. He reiterated he’s not ready to commit to a starting quarterback in the competition between Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy. He again stressed the goal of the competition for the job elevating the quality of quarterback performance on his team.

O’Connell is entering his fifth season as the team’s head coach. He pointed out on the show that in the two years his starting quarterback was able to play full seasons the team has won 13 and 14 games respectively in 2022 and 2024.

O’Connell is a high level amateur golfer and is back in town after participating in the American Century Champion Celebrity Golf Tournament at the Edgewood Tahoe Resort golf course in Nevada. He finished No. 81 among 90 entrants in the annual tournament that includes athletes and entertainers and ended Sunday, according to results from Nbcsports.com.

The Wild’s Matt Boldy was ninth in the field. Former Viking Adam Thielen tied for 16^th,, while another former Viking, Patrick Peterson, was 20^th. Minneapolis native and NFL great Larry Fitzgerald Jr. tied for 22^nd. Twins Hall of Famer Joe Mauer tied for 51^st.

Edina-born and former pro tennis player Mardy Fish won the tournament for a third time having previous triumphs in 2020 and 2024. He won $150,000 in the $750,000 tournament.

Worth Noting

Minnesota natives and pitchers Louie Varland and Max Meyer were chosen for the 2026 American and National League All-Star rosters respectively. They are first-time all-stars representing the AL Blue Jays and NL Marlins.

The most memorable year for native Minnesota All-Stars was probably 1985. St. Paul’s Paul Molitor, Jack Morris and Dave Winfield were chosen for the All-Star Game representing the Brewers, Tigers and Yankees respectively. Fittingly, the game was played at the Metrodome with the National League winning 6-1.

Derek Shelton, a coach for the American League in tonight’s All-Star Game in Philadelphia, is among the wagering favorites to win American League Manager of the Year. To do so the Twins, 48-49, will have to make the playoffs. No manager in either league has won the award since 2006 without skippering a postseason club.

Other betting favorites for the award include two Central Division rivals, Will Venable from the White Sox and Stephen Vogt (2025 winner) from the Guardians. Dan Wilson, the former All-American catcher for the Golden Gophers, is also a favorite for his work with the Mariners.

Wilson played for John Anderson, the now retired Gopher coach who will receive the prestigious Lefty Gomez Award next January from the American Baseball Coaches Association. The annual award is presented to an individual who has contributed significantly to baseball locally, nationally, and internationally.

Referred to affectionately as “14” by admirers (his unform number), Anderson was known for his success in not only winning games, but also the classy way he impacted the Gopher program including his players. He became Minnesota’s coach in 1981 and retired after the 2024 season as the winningest baseball coach in Big Ten history.

Anderson texted the following regarding the award: “Humbling honor that is an achievement by an army of people that contributed to the program’s success during my leadership of the Gopher baseball program. Nothing is accomplished by one individual. I am grateful for all those special relationships that I shared over the years.”

Minnesota football coach P.J. Fleck speaks to the Capital Club on July 21 at Mendakota Country Club. Going into his 10^th season leading the Gophers, the personable Fleck is now the second longest tenured Big Ten coach at his school after Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz (28^th season leading the Hawkeyes). For more information on the breakfast program, contact Patrick Klinger, patrick@agilemarketing.com

Comments Welcome

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?

1 comment

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.

Comments Welcome