O’Connell wound up taking home the award, but things got a tad bit awkward between Vikings fans and Lions writer Dave Birkett afterwards. Birkett was in the room covering the event for the Detroit Free Press, and he tweeted a major piece of news that initially had Vikings fans on the edge of their seats:

The Minnesota Vikings have a tough decision to make between Sam Darnold and J.J. McCarthy this offseason. It sounds like Kevin O'Connell has his mind made up.

Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell isn't closing the door on bringing back quarterback Sam Darnold. "Look, you guys know how I feel about

O’Connell topped runner-up Dan Campbell (Lions), third-place finisher Andy Reid (Chiefs), fourth-place finisher Sean Payton (Denver Broncos) and fifth-place finisher Dan Quinn (Washington Commanders) for the award. O’Connell received 25 of the 50 first-place votes and finished no lower than third on a ballot.

The 2024 season for the Minnesota Vikings could have gone any way imaginable. From being projected to earn the top pick in the draft to winning 14 games is quite a stretch to overcome. This season

Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell has offered a hint that his team will let quarterback Sam Darnold test free agency, rather than franchise tag him.

Not long after taking home the Coach of the Year award, Kevin O’Connell spoke to the media about the Vikings’ looming Sam Darnold decision.

The Vikings' quarterback conundrum figures to be been one of the hottest topics of NFL conversation this winter in Minnesota and throughout the league. Kevin O'Connell discusses the matter on NFL Network on Friday.