Minnesota Vikings fans, rejoice! Kevin O’Connell has rightfully snagged the prestigious AP NFL Coach of the Year award, turning a season of challenges into a celebration of smart coaching and adaptability.

But if you tuned into the heated discussions from Detroit Lions fans, you’d think the award had been mistakenly engraved. Their outrage centers around their own head coach, Dan Campbell, who they believe should have been the one hoisting that COTY trophy.

The case for Campbell is strong, and Detroit’s fandom is not quiet about it. They were quick to highlight Campbell’s 15-2 season record, his head-to-head dominance over O’Connell with two commanding victories, and his ability to keep the Lions roaring despite a slew of injuries that left parts of his defense resembling a MASH unit. A tweet from a particularly passionate fan said it all: Dan Campbell overcame a string of setbacks, losing key defensive players, yet orchestrated a season of triumphs that saw the Lions labeled as an NFC powerhouse.

Despite Campbell’s achievements, the Vikings’ narrative this past season was one of overcoming adversity, which is often a critical factor in COTY considerations. Faced with a team that many thought would flounder in the absence of key players, including missing their quarterback Kirk Cousins due to a season-ending injury to rookie J.J.

McCarthy, O’Connell stepped up. He transformed Sam Darnold into a Pro Bowl quarterback and piloted Minnesota to the second-most successful season in franchise history.

And that, folks, is why O’Connell’s performance stood out to the voters—he took a team many had written off and turned them into a formidable postseason contender.

It’s easy to get caught up in divisional head-to-heads, but the Coach of the Year award considers the entire arc of a season. O’Connell’s ability to rally his team, overcome roster limitations, and still craft a blueprint for success earned him this accolade. Taken into the full context of an NFL season, his achievement is as much about defying expectations as it is about ticking the win column.

So while the debate rages on about who truly deserved the award this year, it’s clear that both O’Connell and Campbell showcased coaching brilliance. Whether you’re backing the Vikings or the Lions, it’s a season to be proud of, with leadership that inspired and delivered against all odds.