The Minnesota Vikings continue to surprise after earning their 12th victory on the season and seventh consecutive win via a drubbing of the Chicago Bears on “Monday Night Football.”

Though, perhaps the time for shock has ended and the only appropriate reaction now is awe at head coach Kevin O’Connell and the staff/team he’s put together in his third year at the helm.

O’Connell is among the best offensive minds in football, which he proved as the offensive coordinator of the 2021 Los Angeles Rams team that captured the Super Bowl trophy following that season. But what he has done in Minnesota is perhaps even more impressive, especially considering the place the franchise was in when he took over.

The Vikings clinched a playoff spot for the second time in three years by besting the Bears and are in the driver’s seat to win their second NFC North Division crown over the same span, as well as a No. 1 seed in the playoffs if they can win out.

But even if all of that doesn’t happen, O’Connell has still made franchise history during his first ever head coaching stint, as Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated pointed out on social media Monday, December 16.

“Tonight, Kevin O’Connell got to 12 wins for the second time in three years — becoming just the second coach to hit 12 wins twice in franchise history,” Breer wrote on X. “Bud Grant was first. And if Minnesota wins next week, he’ll become the first Vikings coach ever to have multiple 13-win seasons.”