Kevin O’Connell is doing a fantastic job with the Minnesota Vikings.

Despite moving on from Kirk Cousins ​​and losing rookie quarterback JJ McCarthy to a season-ending injury, the Vikings enter Thursday Night Football with a 5-1 record.

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After Sunday’s loss to the NFC North rival Detroit Lions, O’Connell has a chance to get back on track against his former mentor Sean McVay and his 2-4 Los Angeles Rams.

Rising star ‘KOC’ was McVay’s offensive coordinator before taking over as Vikings head coach in 2022.

But it was his time as the starting third-string quarterback for the New England Patriots that sowed the seeds for the 39-year-old’s future career.

O’Connell arrived in New England as a third-round pick in the 2008 NFL Draft.

He stood behind Tom Brady, who had just led an undefeated season before falling to the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLII, and regular backup Matt Cassel.

“I was so ready to see this artist go to work,” O’Connell said of the seven-time Super Bowl champion.

Brady had not missed a game in seven seasons since being named starter but tore his ACL in Week 1.

It moved Cassel under center and increased O’Connell’s responsibilities as he tried to help his teammate prepare for games alongside legendary coach Bill Belichick.

“It’s incredible to think back,” O’Connell told The Athletic in 2022.

“We would have meetings with him, have a dialogue with him throughout the week, and then just the situational football side of things – how much you can learn by having your ears open and being willing to listen and absorb what he was trying to say absorb. teach.

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“That will always stick with me – just the connection he makes with every player on the team, no matter where you are on the roster.

“Ultimately you know what the expectations are for you and then you ultimately know whether or not you have achieved those goals because the communication there is so good.”

O’Connell was the perfect backup.

“We spent so much time together that year,” Cassel said.

“We developed such a close, close friendship at that point because I always felt like he had my back, whether it was a good day or a bad day. He was great on the sidelines and was always into it.

“He understood that his opportunity could come at any time, and we really worked hard.

“Josh McDaniels was great at helping him develop by spending extra time with him and talking to us. We spent a lot of time in Belichick’s office breaking down film and defense with him .

“It was just an introduction for him that was taken to a whole different level very early in the season, which was not expected.”

O’Connell bounced around the NFL until he retired in 2012 and worked in television until beginning his coaching career in 2015.

His first big break came as the offensive coordinator with the Washington Commanders in 2019, before getting the chance to work with McVay in LA.

But it was Belichick’s influence that set him on his current path.

“Anyone who goes to New England as a young player understands what Coach Belichick has put together there and the great players they’ve had there and the great coaches Coach Belichick has had with him. O’Connell told The Athletic.

“You get the opportunity for Football 501 every day, you learn at the highest level, you are tested, you are put in situations to really know where you stand.

“Ultimately, it increased my love for football even further and probably planted the first seed to get into coaching in the first place.”

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Belichick is no longer playing in the NFL, although it is believed he would be eager to pick up the clipboard again if the right opportunity presents itself.

His influence on generations of coaches will last well beyond his time in the league.

O’Connell could prove to be the best of them – and McVay won’t underestimate his former student.

“I think he’s done a great job the first two years with a variety of different situations that have arisen. I think he has a great coaching staff,” McVay told Sports Illustrated.

“They have done a great job of adding players that fit the identity they want to play with.

“Kevin is a guy who has had a huge influence and impact here as a coach. I’m not surprised and I’m happy for those guys. We’ll do our best on Thursday.”

“He’s one of my best friends in this league,” O’Connell told Vikings.com about McVay. ‘I have so much love for him.

“(I will) always look back on those two years (together) as incredibly impactful.

“Winning a Super Bowl was something I will definitely never forget.”

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