Paul Allen Suspicious of Kevin O’Connell Trade Rumors; Questions Timing of Initial Report…

The Minnesota Vikings put together and incredible season despite ugly projections. Unfortunately the final couple of weeks were a sinking ship and plenty of rumors swirled.

The future of Sam Darnold became too prevalent and the talk of trading head coach Kevin O’Connell took off. Whether those things became a distraction isn’t something anyone would be willing to admit. The voice of the Vikings, Paul Allen, isn’t dismissing it though.

Did rumors derail the Minnesota Vikings?

As the Minnesota Vikings prepared to play the Detroit Lions, a shockwave was sent through the building. Could head coach, and Coach of the Year candidate, Kevin O’Connell really be gone? Jay Glazer reported as much. Paul Allen wasn’t thrilled by the timing.

There is almost no secondary party more connected to the inner workings of the team than Allen. He has been the voice of the Vikings forever, and he obviously travels with the group as well. He recounted how that news spread throughout the hotel, pregame, and postgame.

Dec 10, 2023; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Minnesota Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell reacts during the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Of course you’d love to act as though information doesn’t bother anyone. Players are humans though, and there are ripple effects from that sort of news getting out.

It’s one thing for O’Connell, or his agent who has his interests in mind, to be disappointed that the Wilf’s haven’t already gotten an extension done. It’s entirely different to air that frustration in a way that detracts from the tasks at hand and generates a level of distraction.

Related: Kevin O’Connell Blames Minnesota Vikings O-line After Loss

Allen’s frustration and admonishment isn’t unfounded either. This is typically stuff done by diva players. Justin Jefferson never went that route while securing a massive new payday. As good as O’Connell is as a coach, there was no reason for this to ever become a story.

The Vikings should lock O’Connell up into the foreseeable future. The head coach could also come out, as Mike Tomlin has, and put any rumors of trading for him in their grave.