In seven years teaching throughout 4 groups, O’Connell shaped an concept of what sort of tradition he wished to construct as a head coach – one which’s participant led.
Because the Vikings gave him that chance in February 2022, he is challenged his gamers to have enter and possession, to “create one thing that is one in all one in being completely linked with our gamers”.
“I knew that if we may get that proper, we’d get the soccer proper,” he added.
O’Connell says that communication, self-discipline and accountability are key elements to a mindset the place his gamers “care about doing issues for a motive higher than your self”.
He additionally spoke to them about being “situational masters” and executing when the sport is on the road, and so they have change into used to overcoming adversity on and off the sphere.
Eleven of their 13 wins in 2022 have been by eight factors or fewer. Final season quarterback Kirk Cousins and star receiver Justin Jefferson received injured, but they remained in play-off rivalry until mid-December.
“I feel it is ingrained within the workforce that if there’s time on the clock, we have nonetheless received an opportunity,” mentioned O’Connell.
“We have mixed that euphoric expertise of profitable all these video games in 2022 with 2023, after we received a distinct sort of lesson. Coping with that adversity, I feel there was loads of organisational progress in our mindset and understanding what we’ll be about transferring ahead.”
Now they’re one in all simply two NFL groups to stay unbeaten – together with final season’s Tremendous Bowl winners the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs – and O’Connell believes Jackson’s loss has supplied them with further inspiration.
“I feel so, as a result of it is allowed us to focus and have a actuality test of nothing is given,” he mentioned. “We perceive how blessed and lucky we’re to do that each day as a result of it may be taken away in a second.
“So let’s make sure that we maximise each second we’ve got with each other, understanding how particular a spot that is, what the gamers have constructed right here.”