Let's take a ride on the 2025 coaching carousel with Conor Orr + the rise of Kevin O'Connell with Jourdan Rodrigue and Alec Lewis
Dec 10, 2024
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Conor Orr, a seasoned sports journalist, joins Jourdan Rodrigue, The Athletic's Rams writer, and Alec Lewis, Vikings specialist, to navigate the evolving NFL coaching landscape. They discuss the surprising coaching vacancies likely to emerge, touching on Bill Belichick's uncertain future. Orr highlights the rise of Kevin O'Connell as a key figure, marking a shift in coaching strategies. Insights on potential first-time coordinators and off-the-beaten-path candidates add depth to the conversation, showcasing the dynamic nature of NFL coaching.
The ongoing 2025 coaching carousel reveals an evolving landscape for NFL head coaching candidates amid teams searching for fresh leadership.
Kevin O'Connell's empathetic leadership style fosters strong player relationships, creating an environment of trust crucial for team success.
Adaptability is essential for head coaches like O'Connell, who effectively adjusts game plans to counter diverse defensive strategies during games.
A focus on teaching and simplifying complex concepts distinguishes O'Connell's coaching method, enhancing player confidence and on-field execution.
Deep dives
Coaching Candidate Insights
The podcast discusses the landscape of potential head coaching candidates for the NFL, highlighting the importance of thorough evaluation beyond superficial qualifications. With several teams already searching for new head coaches, emphasis is placed on getting deeper insights into candidates like Kevin O'Connell, who has emerged as a successful coach for the Vikings. The conversation mentions the trend of hiring offensive coordinators without considering their underlying coaching philosophies and adaptability, suggesting that the search committees should focus on candidates' ability to teach, relate, and adapt rather than just their association with successful teams. Ultimately, effective coaching requires a nuanced understanding of what makes a candidate successful, taking into account their interpersonal skills alongside their strategic knowledge.
O'Connell's Empathy and Leadership
Kevin O'Connell's leadership style is characterized by empathy and intentional communication with players, which is spotlighted as a key to his success. The podcast emphasizes how O'Connell aims to be the supportive figure for players that he wished he had during his own career, going the extra mile to give them the confidence they need to succeed. This supportive nature has helped build strong relationships with players, fostering their growth and ensuring they feel understood and valued. His approach sets a foundation for trust, where players are more willing to engage with the system he's implemented and able to rise to their potential under his guidance.
Importance of Adaptability
The discussion highlights adaptability as a crucial quality for head coaches, particularly in the context of O'Connell's ability to adjust game plans in response to opponents' strategies. O'Connell's experience in a dynamic offense at the Rams equips him to handle bespoke defensive game plans that challenge the Vikings' offense. His ability to pivot and implement in-game adjustments, even when defenses throw unexpected looks, is noted as indicative of his advanced understanding of football dynamics. This flexibility enables players to thrive in various situations, ultimately enhancing overall team performance.
Teaching and Communicating Concepts
O'Connell’s proficiency in teaching complex concepts to players is another focal point of the podcast, emphasizing how he simplifies complex offenses into understandable segments. His method involves creating a connect-the-dots approach, where terminology from various plays is interlinked, allowing players to quickly grasp their assignments during games. This intentional design of offensive communication not only aids in player learning but also builds confidence among team members as they can rely on their understanding to execute game plans effectively. This educational aspect of his coaching style is set apart from some others, showing that O'Connell prioritizes clarity alongside execution.
Insights from Players and Coaches
Alec Lewis and Jordan Roderick share valuable insights about O'Connell's impact through anecdotes from players who have directly benefited from his coaching. Players like Brian O’Neill speak highly of how O'Connell's process-oriented mindset creates an environment where they feel encouraged to ask questions and deepen their understanding of the game. This structure fosters not only on-field performance but also professional and personal growth for players who thrive in such a supportive environment. The willingness to cultivate relationships with players elevates the entire team dynamic, making for a cohesive unit that is invested in each other's success.
Adapting to External Challenges
The podcast also examines how Kevin O'Connell has weathered external challenges while maintaining team morale and productivity. From handling unexpected player injuries to responding to sudden shifts in team dynamics, O'Connell's adaptability shines through in how he keeps the team engaged and focused on their goals. This resilience is indicative of a strong leader who not only takes the initiative but also rallies the team to rise above adversity. As challenges arise, O'Connell's ability to maintain positive communication fosters a culture of accountability and support, encouraging players to step up despite difficulties.
Long-Term Vision and Hiring Practices
A broader discussion emerges about NFL teams' hiring practices moving forward in the evolving coaching landscape. The podcast advocates for organizations to prioritize not just recent success or popularity but a true understanding of broader skill sets and coaching acumen. O'Connell's story illustrates how an emphasis on relational and innovative coaching can disrupt the status quo of conventional hiring trends. The challenge moving into the future is for teams to recognize the deeper attributes that successful head coaches possess—those that translate into high-functioning teams that perform well in the long term.
Conclusion on O'Connell's Potential
The episode closes by reiterating the significance of Kevin O'Connell's approach as representative of a new wave of head coaches who blend traditional coaching with modern relational techniques. As teams prepare for upcoming seasons and potential coaching changes, O'Connell stands as a beacon of what can be achieved through thoughtful, intentional leadership. His commitment to understanding players both in terms of strategy and personally will likely serve as a model for future coaches being considered as candidates. Moving forward, the takeaways from O'Connell's successes should guide franchises in their pursuits of leadership and excellence within their own organizations.
The 2025 coaching carousel has been spinning since the Jets surprisingly fired Robert Saleh in October. Since then, the Bears and Saints have officially hopped on board, and we know at least three or four more are going to join them. Who else might be looking for a coach after the season? What should we expect from Bill Belichick, Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn? Who might be the surprise candidates that emerge in January? Conor Orr from Sports Illustrated joins Robert Mays to break down the upcoming coaching cycle on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.
Then, The Athletic's Jourdan Rodrigue and Alec Lewis discuss with Robert a recent success on the coaching carousel: Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell.
