The Minnesota Vikings made a major move before the 4 p.m. ET trade deadline on Nov. 10, acquiring veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins from the Las Vegas Raiders for a 2027 third-round pick. After Kyler Murray and Carson Wentz failed to bring consistent form to the offense, Minnesota is hoping Cousins can make an immediate impact and recapture the success he had during his first stint with the team.
But if the move does not work out—particularly if the Vikings miss the playoffs or suffer a disappointing exit—questions could grow about head coach Kevin O’Connell’s future. Former NFL player Domonique Foxworth argued that Minnesota should consider firing O’Connell and promoting defensive coordinator Brian Flores.
“The Vikings should fire KOC and promote Brian Flores,” Foxworth said on the Nov. 12 edition of “This Is Football.” He questioned O’Connell’s reputation as a quarterback developer, pointing to Sam Darnold and J.J. McCarthy, who has found success elsewhere. Foxworth also said the Vikings have not gotten the most out of Murray and credited the team’s defense for keeping it competitive.
## Why the Vikings Could Be Reluctant to Lose Brian Flores
Foxworth said he does not consider O’Connell a bad coach, but argued that Flores’ contribution is central to the defense’s success. He noted that even talented defenses can regress, yet said Minnesota’s unit has continued to perform well. Foxworth also observed that the defense appears able to withstand the loss of individual players, a quality he described as unusual among strong defenses.
O’Connell’s future has drawn attention from other commentators, too. FOX Sports’ Jason McIntyre said he likes the trade for both Minnesota and Las Vegas, but questioned whether the Vikings can make the most of their defense while their quarterback situation remains uncertain.
McIntyre said Flores could leave after the season, potentially depriving O’Connell of a key defensive coach. He estimated that there was at least a 20% to 25% chance O’Connell would be fired at the end of the season, adding that the coach needs to get Minnesota to the playoffs before the situation worsens.
