Predicting NFC North head coaches in 2023
Minnesota Vikings: Kevin O’Connell
Call the Vikings lucky all you want for the run they went on this past season, but it’s no coincidence that they were one of the best teams in the NFL on script this past season. Kevin O’Connell was in charge of that area with the Los Angeles Rams, and he brought his specialty to Minneapolis where the Vikings were able to rank 8th in the NFL in points scored en route to an NFC North division title.
Unfortunately, they were bested at home by the Giants in the postseason. There might be some changes needed on the defensive side, but O’Connell looks like the right man for the job. You don’t win 11 one-score games in one single season without strong coaching, no matter how much luck is involved.
Chicago Bears: Matt Eberflus
Matt Eberflus inherited a long-term rebuild situation with the Chicago Bears, but the heavy lifting on the roster reload will be done here in 2023. Justin Fields took a big step forward this past season under the watch of Eberflus and offensive coordinator Luke Getsy, a promising sign for the future of the team.
The question is, did he take a big enough step forward? Will the Bears and their brain trust (who didn’t draft Fields) look to take a different swing at quarterback? It’s not out of the realm of possibility, although they could also sell the top pick in the 2023 NFL Draft for a king’s ransom.