Takeaways from Vikings Media Day in United Kingdom

1. O’Connell on growing the game

O’Connell is a big fan of the NFL trying to nurture its fanbase on an international level.

He values the nuances of competition and the teamwork that the sport demands.

“I grew up loving this game. Everything about it,” O’Connell said. “It really has defined who I am as a person, being around such a unique, dynamic team sport where you can accomplish nothing without the other 10 guys in the huddle doing their job without the other phases of the team playing complementary football, there’s really nothing like it, as far as just a game that requires such physical commitment and sacrifice, but yet the mental aspect of each and every play, each and every situation of games.”

There’s no way to copy-and-paste outcomes. A million little things determine winners each week, O’Connell said. It explains why games are consistently close – and why a team can win on any given game day.

“Our rules are set up that really, every single training camp, every fan base should feel like, ‘We’ve got a chance this year to do something special.’ And then the best part is we roll it out 17 times and see what happens from there, so hopefully we continue to get more and more opportunities worldwide,” shared O’Connell, applauding the interest from international fans. “I know how special this area of the world is, and the London Games have been such a phenomenal, phenomenal thing for our league.”