The Dallas Cowboys will be hosting the Minnesota Vikings tomorrow night on Sunday Night Football. The Vikings enter the game with a 5-8 record, and Dallas rolls in with a 6-6-1 record.
Both teams have playoff chances on life support, and a loss for either one would basically end either team’s chances at a postseason run.
Interestingly enough, Vikings’ head coach Kevin O’Connell and Cowboys’ head coach Brian Schottenheimer have some history.
Cowboys’ Schottenheimer Opens Up on Time With Vikings’ O’Connell
GettyHead coach Kevin O’Connell of the Minnesota Vikings and J.J. McCarthy #9.
Garrett Podell of CBS Sports pointed out the connection between the two:
Schottenheimer was the New York Jets‘ offensive coordinator during the Rex Ryan-Mark Sanchez glory years in which the Jets reached consecutive AFC Championship Games in 2009 and 2010, and O’Connell was one of New York’s backup quarterbacks.
Podell went on to share the words that Schottenheimer had to say regarding his time with Kevin O’Connell in New York:
“Played great, the little bit I saw from the game, just flipping through the different games and things like that,” Schottenheimer said on Monday. “I thought [McCarthy] played great. Looked very comfortable. Very talented young man. I won’t speak too much into it, but I’ve heard amazing things about him as a leader and what he brings to that locker room.
“I coached Kevin O’Connell in New York. He was one of our backup quarterbacks. Love Kevin. I think he’s an incredible coach. He’s an expert in developing quarterbacks. I’ll say that about Kevin. I think the future looks very bright for J.J.”
Schottenheimer felt it necessary to praise Vikings’ QB J.J. McCarthy, whom is coming off of a big performance in Week 14 against the Washington Commanders. The Dallas Cowboys currently allow the most passing yards in the NFL on average, at 255.2 yards per game, per NFL Pro.
This week could be another spot for McCarthy to shine against a suspect Cowboys’ passing defense.
Brian Schottenheimer Recalls Kevin O’Connell in New York
GettyHead coach Brian Schottenheimer of the Dallas Cowboys
Podell went on to report a couple of the lengths O’Connell would go to as a QB in New York Jets for Rex Ryan and the coaching staff:
“Kevin had been in New England with Tom and knew a lot of the answers. He would get with Rex and the defensive staff every time we played the Patriots and basically become a defensive coach that week. He gave a great look to the scout team, helped them come up with blitzes and ways to attack things.”
Schottenheimer went on to praise O’Connell not only on the field, but off the field as well:
“If you’ve ever been around the guy, he’s very personable, very football-intelligent, and he’s a leader of men. So I was not surprised when he became a head coach. I was not surprised to see his success because every time I’ve been around him, I’ve been impressed by him as a man — a husband, a father — all those things. Again, he really helped us be a really good team a number of times when we were facing off against the Patriots.”
Crazy to think, but the Vikings and head coach Kevin O’Connell were both a game away from facing off in the Super Bowl in 2009. O’Connell of course wouldn’t have played, but that connection is there.
Kevin O’Connell has a strong reputation around the league amongst his peers, and Brian Schottenheimer only adds to that sentiment.
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