Could Patriots Be Among Teams Interested In Trading For Elite Coach?

Leading up to the Patriots’ season finale, ESPN’s Adam Schefter expressed serious doubt about Jerod Mayo returning for another campaign in New England.

And less than an hour later, another top NFL insider shared a stunning report that could dramatically impact the upcoming coaching carousel.

FOX Sports’ Jay Glazer on Sunday revealed “multiple teams” are thinking about trying to trade for Kevin O’Connell. Glazer didn’t clarify whether the Vikings would be open to moving O’Connell, but he noted the coach’s contract is set to expire after the 2025 season and “there have been no talks” yet about a new deal in Minnesota.

Glazer did not specify the franchises mulling a potential O’Connell pursuit, but it’s fair to wonder whether the Patriots are among the group. All of New England’s offseason plans should center around Drake Maye, and O’Connell probably could turn the young quarterback into one of the game’s best. After all, look at what O’Connell did with Sam Darnold after the 2018 first-rounder did next to nothing across his first six NFL seasons.

To be clear, it’s tough to imagine the Vikings will shop O’Connell. He’s probably one of the top five coaches in the game and the future is bright in Minnesota as J.J. McCarthy awaits his turn to run the offense. O’Connell and the Vikes absolutely should have mutual interest in extending their marriage long-term.

But in an unlikely scenario where Minnesota makes O’Connell available, the Patriots should stage an all-out pursuit. And it would be somewhat of a full-circle moment if the 39-year-old reunited with the team that drafted him in 2008.