The Minnesota Vikings are riding a wave of momentum, clinching their sixth consecutive victory with a commanding 42-21 triumph over the Atlanta Falcons.
The game carried an extra layer of emotional significance as it marked a reunion between the team and Kirk Cousins, their former quarterback who spent six illustrious seasons wearing purple before departing in free agency.
Cousins, once a beloved figure in Minnesota, especially during his final two seasons under head coach Kevin O’Connell, returned to U.S. Bank Stadium facing his old team.
The narrative went beyond just another game, representing a moment of professional transition and mutual respect.
After the Vikings’ decisive win, O’Connell made sure to express his genuine appreciation for Cousins.
“I just told him I’m so thankful for our time,” O’Connell shared with Alec Lewis from The Athletic. “Coaching him as a position coach, then obviously as the head coach when I got here, coming up on three years ago. I love him as a person. I think he’s a great human being, a great father and a great person.”
Vikings HC Kevin O’Connell on what he said to Kirk Cousins after the game on the field: pic.twitter.com/Jme3NHLsuW
— Alec Lewis (@alec_lewis) December 8, 2024
The connection between O’Connell and Cousins traces back to 2017 when O’Connell was hired as quarterbacks coach in Washington under head coach Jay Gruden.
Cousins’ journey eventually led him to Minnesota in 2018, with their professional paths reconverging in 2022 when the Vikings brought O’Connell on as head coach.
Reflecting on their shared history, O’Connell spoke warmly about Cousins’ current performance with the Falcons, expressing confidence that the quarterback would continue to excel.
The game itself might have been a victory for the Vikings, but the real story was the mutual admiration between a coach and his former quarterback.
