Daily Norseman
As a Vikings fan, declaring any situation “rock bottom” is always a perilous proposition. This is, after all, a franchise that once “missed” a draft pick, becoming a subject of national ridicule, and had its stadium roof collapse, serving as a perfect symbol of a terrible season. Coincidentally, that same season saw a head coach quickly burn through goodwill at a record-breaking rate. Whether that record still stands after this season remains to be seen.
Since joining the DN as a contributor, I’ve always taken a glass-half-full approach to our favorite team. Optimism is preferable in life. However, I’ve not been naïve and have made it a point to acknowledge real issues and, at least, give a passing nod to worst-case scenarios. Perhaps I’ve been too reluctant to see the warning signs; I’ll admit that. Denial? That works, too.
After the debacle last Sunday against the Seahawks, it’s time for a shift in perspective. Enough is enough. I don’t care if we run the table (spoiler: we won’t). Things need to change this offseason—and drastically. What we’ve seen over 12 games has been shocking, perplexing, and disheartening. Even the most cynical and emotionally battered Vikings fan couldn’t have imagined what has unfolded. Well, maybe a few. But very few. It’s been that bad.
The Minnesota Vikings are the only team that can let you down in 10 different ways across 10 separate seasons. It’s genuinely astonishing.
While KAM and KOC have earned the 2026 season to flip the script, the house money they were working with is gone. That ship has sailed. It’s now or never. Fish or cut bait. Feel free to add any cliché you like. Everything from the front office to the entire offense to special teams—scouting, scheme, game planning, play calling (and its responsibilities)—must be scrutinized. Once this season mercifully ends in early January, the clock starts ticking, excuses run out, and there’s no margin for error. We must make the playoffs.
The Vikings spent over $200 million in guaranteed money during the last two offseasons—a majority of that before the current 4-8 campaign. For that kind of investment, you’d expect an all-star, ensemble cast in a feel-good drama where the protagonist faces some easily manageable challenges and ultimately gets the love interest, the dream job, and sheds tears of joy as the credits roll. Instead, we’ve ended up with a horror movie crossover where Michael Myers, Jason Voorhees, and Freddy Krueger slash and burn their way through the collective hopes and dreams of Vikings fans.
To quote Jerry Glanville, the NFL stands for “not for long” when things go sideways. It’s the textbook definition of a “what have you done for me lately” profession. There’s a real possibility that KOC’s overall record could go from 34-17 with no playoff wins to something like 40-28 or (close your eyes, kids) 38-30 with no playoff wins just like that.
In January, Jay Glazer reported that teams were interested in trading for our...
