Vikings coach shares why he offered Colts' Anthony Richardson viral encouragement

Minnesota Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell's stock has risen dramatically in 2024 – and not just on the sidelines.

On Thursday, a video circulated from NFL Films of O'Connell giving recently benched Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson a pep talk after the Vikings' 21-13 win on Sunday. The coach, once a backup quarterback himself, earned praise for his class.

O'Connell explained his words to reporters on Friday [via ESPN’s Kevin Seifert] that he wanted Richardson to know how he felt.

“Whether it meant something to him or not didn’t matter. And I think it's a good thing for everyone in society. If you have the ability to help someone else in circumstances, perhaps while working.” It's far from ideal, but there is a way and a way – in my opinion a pretty big one, considering it's a very , has had a very successful NFL career –[you should]” said O'Connell.

Richardson was benched after completing just 10 of his 32 pass attempts in a 23-20 loss to the Houston Texans on October 27.

“I'm just a big fan, and if you have something to say to cheer someone else up, you might as well say it and not keep it to yourself,” O'Connell said.