Kevin O’Connell has said he wants to remain as Vikings coach.

EAGAN, Minn. — Kevin O’Connell made it clear Monday that he wants to continue as head coach of the Minnesota Vikings, even though his contract status reportedly sparked interest from other NFL teams looking to acquire his services via trade.

“I’m not really interested in commenting on rumors or speculation,” O’Connell said. “All I can tell you is I love this team. I love everything about this organization. This is where I want to be. This is where I want to continue to coach and lead.”

O’Connell and general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah each signed four-year contracts when they were hired within weeks of each other in 2022. They had a combined 20-14 record in their first two seasons, but owners Zygi and Mark Wilf were determined. I am opposed to offering contract extensions mid-deal. Mark Wilf said in August that if such discussions were warranted, he would target after the 2024 season and the Vikings would go on to post an unexpected 14-3 record and qualify for the playoffs.

But until a deal is done, O’Connell will become a coaching free agent after the 2025 season. On Sunday morning, Fox Sports reported that multiple NFL teams would be interested in acquiring O’Connell via trade if the Vikings were able to land him.

However, multiple team sources confirmed this weekend that the Wilfs are not interested in trading O’Connell, and O’Connell’s statement on Monday showed he has no interest in forcing his way out. He said “his only focus at this point” is finding a way to move on from Sunday’s 31-9 loss to the Detroit Lions and build on a win against the Los Angeles Rams in next Monday’s wild-card playoff game at SoFi. stadium.

“(I’m not interested) in any conversation that isn’t about the Rams and the task at hand at this point,” O’Connell said. “And while it is my personal responsibility to make immediate improvements from yesterday, I also take advantage of the opportunity to play in the tournament (that is) my only focus at this point.”

In three seasons in Minnesota, O’Connell compiled a 34-17 regular season record, the sixth-best record in the NFL over that span. He is one of three coaches in NFL history, along with Matt LaFleur and George Seifert, to win at least 13 games in two of his first three seasons as a head coach.