Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell is one of the winningest active coaches in the NFL, but his status as a quarterback whisperer is being called into question.
At one point, O’Connell was considered a bright young head coach who would get the most out of any quarterback on his team. Over time, though, the Vikings still haven’t solved their quarterback issues, while Minnesota’s former signal-callers have thrived elsewhere.
Now, with Kyler Murray the latest Vikings quarterback who isn’t playing up to expectations, O’Connell’s status as a quarterback guru has waned. The Vikings head coach needs to turn that around for Minnesota to compete for a Super Bowl.
Here’s a breakdown of every quarterback to start a game with the Vikings under O’Connell.
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Vikings QB timeline under Kevin O’Connell
Kirk Cousins (2022-23)
O’Connell inherited Cousins when he first arrived in Minnesota in 2022, and the two were a great pair. Cousins started every game for the Vikings that year, leading Minnesota to the playoffs with a 13-4 record while totaling 4,547 passing yards and 29 passing touchdowns.
That season continued Cousins’ strong play for the Vikings, as his numbers were similar to his seasonal production since signing with Minnesota in 2018. From a wins standpoint, though, Cousins had only won double-digit games once before and had never won more than 10 contests.
In 2023, Cousins had a solid start before he tore his Achilles, which was a huge blow ahead of free agency. In 25 games with O’Connell, Cousins produced 275.12 passing yards per game with 37 passing touchdowns in total.
Josh Dobbs (2023)
After Cousins tore his Achilles, the Vikings traded for quarterback Josh Dobbs, who had been solid for the Arizona Cardinals in place of an injured Kyler Murray. While the Cardinals had just one win up to that point, Dobbs had 14 total touchdowns, passing and rushing, and showed enough to get a chance elsewhere.
Dobbs’ production slightly dipped when he began playing for the Vikings, and he was unable to fill Cousins’ shoes. Dobbs started four games for Minnesota, appearing in five total contests, and had just 179 passing yards per game.
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Nick Mullens (2023)
Nick Mullens was the Vikings’ backup quarterback in 2022, but he didn’t start a game until 2023, after O’Connell benched Dobbs mid-game as the Vikings beat the Raiders 3-0. In the final five games of the season, Mullens started three of them but failed to lead the team to a win in any of those starts.
Despite Mullens being the Vikings’ chosen backup, Minnesota wasn’t confident enough in him to replace Cousins, instead choosing to trade for Dobbs. When Mullens did play, he actually did quite well, producing over 300 passing yards and multiple touchdowns in each of his three starts. However, he also threw six total interceptions in those three games.
Jaren Hall (2023)
Jaren Hall, a fifth-round rookie, was actually the Vikings’ original choice to replace Cousins in 2023, but he got a concussion in his first start, which led to Dobbs taking over. Hall then remained sidelined until Week 17, when he got another start for Minnesota against the Packers over both Dobbs and Mullens.
Hall struggled in that game, totaling just 67 passing yards and an interception in the first half, leading O’Connell to turn to Mullens for the second half. Hall hasn’t appeared in an NFL game since.
Sam Darnold (2024)
Sam Darnold’s success in 2024 is perhaps O’Connell’s brightest moment as an NFL coach. Darnold, a former top three pick, was on his fourth team in his seven-year career and had just been a 49ers backup for an entire season when he was named the Vikings starter in 2024.
Darnold went on to put up the best numbers of his career, totaling career highs in passing yards (4,319) and passing touchdowns (35). He also led the Vikings to a 14-3 record, but bad games to end the regular season and in the playoffs spoiled it for Minnesota fans.
As a free agent, Darnold went on to sign with the Seattle Seahawks, where he would continue his success and lead them to a Super Bowl victory. O’Connell and the Vikings would turn to a young quarterback next.
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J.J. McCarthy (2025)
The Vikings selected J.J. McCarthy in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, making him the future of the franchise. However, McCarthy missed all of 2024 after undergoing knee surgery, which paved the way for Darnold to thrive.
A year later, Minnesota opted to go with McCarthy instead of re-signing Darnold, a gamble that didn’t pay off. While Darnold was having much success in Seattle, McCarthy was struggling to acclimate to the NFL, both due to injuries and underperformance.
In his lone season as the Vikings’ starter, McCarthy went 6-4 with 1,632 passing yards, 15 total touchdowns and 11 interceptions. O’Connell, though, appeared to lack patience with the young quarterback, who showed immaturity both on and off the field.
McCarthy remained with the team into the 2026 season, but Minnesota sent him to the New York Giants in September. O’Connell’s inability to either scout or develop McCarthy could be his biggest red flag as a head coach.
Carson Wentz (2025-26)
By the time Carson Wentz arrived in Minnesota, he was a journeyman with a reputation for erratic play, but his best plays were good enough to make him McCarthy’s backup. As McCarthy dealt with his ups and downs in 2025, Wentz made five starts and led the Vikings to a 2-3 record.
Wentz’s play allowed him to stick around in 2026 as Kyler Murray’s backup, which also led to him starting games. The veteran is not any different with the Vikings than he’s been previously in his career.
Max Brosmer (2025)
For two games in 2025, the Vikings went to undrafted free agent Max Brosmer, believing he could be a diamond in the rough. Instead, it went horribly wrong.
Brosmer’s first start was in Seattle against the eventual Super Bowl champions, a brutal card for Brosmer to draw. The rookie threw four interceptions in a 26-0 loss, and he was clearly overwhelmed by the moment as the Seahawks’ dominant defense showed out.
Brosmer got another start later in the year against the Lions, and he did lead Minnesota to a win despite throwing for just 51 yards.
Overall, Brosmer appeared in seven games for the Vikings but averaged just 46.9 passing yards per game.
Kyler Murray (2026)
The Vikings signed Kyler Murray in the offseason, hoping that he could be rejuvenated in Minnesota, but that hasn’t happened yet. While the Vikings were the last undefeated team in the NFL, Murray dealt with a concussion early in the year and hasn’t found a groove upon returning.
With Murray struggling, and Darnold and J.J. McCarthy finding some success elsewhere, many are wondering whether O’Connell is overrated as an offensive coach. Murray always seemed to be an odd fit with the offense O’Connell wants to run, and that has proven true so far.
