There’s a logjam of challenges facing rookie coach Kevin O’Connell of the NFL’s Vikings. He’s drawing up schemes to slow savvy veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers of the Packers, figuring out how to fend off Lions’ edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson and tinkering with ways to bottle up Bears running back David Montgomery.
O’Connell intentionally added another to his list.
The 37-year-old who played at La Costa Canyon and San Diego State now finds himself figuring out what to do with the season tickets he snapped up for the Aztecs’ debut season in Snapdragon Stadium.
“I’m probably going to be giving away a lot of tickets,” he said.
Though O’Connell has risen to football’s big time, the former offensive coordinator of the Super Bowl-winning Rams has strengthened his hometown roots rather than untethering them.
That continuing connection included a tour of the $310 million facility with SDSU Director of Athletics John David Wicker.
“I was so thankful for J.D. taking the time,” O’Connell said. “I was able to get some of the inside story on the energy and effort that went into the planning and construction. All the places inside are designed in a way to maximize the experience of the fan. They checked all the boxes.
“When fans go there the first time, they’ll feel what I felt but with 35,000 people there.”
The switchbacks O’Connell has traced to professional football’s coaching mountaintop — and season-ticket abandonment — dumbfound.
The former quarterback, a third-round draft pick of the Patriots in 2008, bounced between rosters, practice squads and offseason handshakes with the Lions, Jets, Dolphins and Chargers. The player who attempted six passes in his career (four completions, all with the Patriots) climbed the sidelines ladder with the Browns, 49ers, now-Commanders and Rams.
Last season, O’Connell helped the Rams hoist the Lombardi Trophy. Wide receiver Cooper Kupp led the NFL in receiving yards and touchdowns, while quarterback Matthew Stafford finished second in scoring strikes — just two behind Tom Brady. The long road and offense he shaped delivered the ultimate reward.
There’s no sweat-free, sleep-filled route to taking over one of 32 franchises.
“I think back a lot, some of the jobs you don’t end up taking or they don’t work out and it alters your path,” O’Connell said. “It changes who you’re around, what players you’re working with.”
One, as a player, was Brady himself.
“He’ll go down as the best quarterback to ever play NFL football,” O’Connell said. “I was this kid from California, just trying to make sure I didn’t fall asleep in meetings. I remember thinking I’d get in early and be one of the first people at the facility.
“I’d pull in the parking lot and Tom’s car already is there. He’d finished a workout and watched tape already.”
At San Diego State, O’Connell cherishes wins against BYU and Utah during his sophom*ore season in 2005. He missed out on a chance to play for current coach Brady Hoke, who left Ball State after 2008 to take over on Montezuma Mesa.
Shared coaching circles created a what-if.
“I have a ton of respect for Coach Hoke,” O’Connell said. “I tell him all the time how awesome it would have been to play for him. Toughness, accountability, teamwork, the things we talk a lot about as coaches, it’s obvious he instills that loud and clear throughout the building.”
Now, O’Connell calls the shots.
“I used to laugh working alongside (Rams coach) Sean McVay, when he said he had some ‘head coach stuff’ come up,” he said. “The coaches, we’d all laugh and try to hold things up while he dealt with that. Now I know what it’s like. Everything runs through your office.
“It’s crazy how little football you get to do in 16 hours at the office. You need a great staff.”
The months have flown by for O’Connell, whose hiring was made official Feb. 16. That allows little time to reshape things, from the linebackers to the long snapper. The freshness also extends to new GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, who was hired just 21 days earlier.
Ready. Set. Run.
The blur of things remains completely worth it, of course.
“As a first-time head coach, you really want to set the tone in everything we do, everything players feel,” O’Connell said of the sprint. “Now I get to do that. That means a lot to me.”
Buying season tickets to the Aztecs surely means much to that program. Especially when the person signing the check has a few things going on when the footballs start flying.
