Why Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell should be on hot seat despite NFL-best 6-1 record

The Minnesota Vikings (6-1) are in co-possession of the best record in the NFL with the Buffalo Bills and the San Francisco 49ers entering Week 9, the halfway point of the 2026 season. However, head coach Kevin O'Connell should be on the hot seat.

How could both of those things be true? Let's take a quick look at what is powering the Vikings' early-season success and then take a deep dive into why O'Connell's bungling of his quarterback position — both in 2026 and years prior — in tandem with wasting Justin Jefferson and a poor playoff record should be causing his seat to be increasing in temperature.

O'Connell is Minnesota's head coach and offensive play caller, but defensive coordinator Brian Flores' blitzkrieg defense is why the Vikings have won six of their first seven games. Minnesota's defense leads the NFL in the following statistics:

However, O'Connell's offense is powered by 2022 NFL Offensive Player of the Year wide receiver Justin Jefferson, two-time Pro Bowl tight end T.J. Hockenson, former first-round pick wide receiver Jordan Addison, two-time Pro Bowl quarterback Kyler Murray and an offensive line that is allowing the fifth-longest time to pressure (2.71 seconds) in the NFL this…

Original source: https://www.cbssports.com/