NFL news: Vikings players talk inspirational message from coach

The 2025 season is not what Minnesota Vikings It was on his mind after going 14-3 last year.

Entering Sunday, the Vikings had lost four straight games, falling to 4-8 with their playoff hopes very low heading into the contest against Washington leaders. But when the clock hit zero at U.S. Bank Stadium, the score was 31-0 in favor of the home team.

The Vikings looked like they were in control a season ago, and a pregame message from head coach Kevin O’Connell may be the main reason why.

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Minnesota Vikings quarterback Andrew Van Ginkel (43) celebrates after Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) is sacked in the second quarter on Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025, at Lumen Field in Seattle. (Anthony Souffle/Minnesota Star Tribune)

Defensive captain Harrison Smith choked up in the Vikings’ locker room after their four-game winning streak was snapped. FOX 9 CMSP That O’Connell wanted his team to guide themselves in high school. It’s a relevant message, because when playoff chances are slim at the end of the season, players sometimes ease off the gas pedal.

O’Connell reminded his players of those days NFL It was just a dream, and fellow defenders Josh Metellus and Andrew Van Ginkel felt it was perfect heading into their final home game.

“As soon as KO said it, I whispered under my breath, ‘Go get it,'” Metellus told Fox News Digital after he and Van Ginkel helped Raising Cane donate 100 kids’ bikes to the Boys & Girls Club of The Twin Cities in Minneapolis on Monday. “That’s what I would tell myself right now if my 16-year-old self was talking to me right now. Go get what you want. Leave it all on the line, and whatever happens, happens.”

Captain Jayden Daniels takes a hit after making an interception, re-injuring his shoulder

“That’s how I’ve been going my whole career up to this point, and the KO brought me back to that moment. That was really special.”

For Metellus, O’Connell’s letter brought back his high school days when he wasn’t being recruited as heavily as his teammates at Charles W. Flanagan High School in Pembroke Pines, Florida. He would eventually get a chance to play for the Michigan Wolverines, but Metellus went into every Friday night game saying the same thing to himself.

Joshua Metellus of the Minnesota Vikings stands on the field before an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium on October 23, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Brooke Sutton/Getty Images)

Go get it.

“I think, for me especially, hearing that message, I had a different path to success than a lot of guys did,” Metellus explained. “I was just thinking about high school, being 16 years old and not having any offers and playing with a group of guys who were really good, highly recruited. I always go into this and say to myself on a Friday night, ‘You just got what you want.’ Whatever you want to do, go get it.” “I knew everything I wanted was in front of me. I heard the stories, I saw the success stories of men, and I applied and went out and got it. “I always knew I would be where I wanted to be.”

When Van Ginkel heard the message, he remembered his high school days in the Rock Valley, Iowa community.

“It’s huge just because we’ve been playing this game, a lot of us, since elementary and middle school. In those days, you dream of continuing to play college football, continuing to play in the NFL,” he said. “To play against [Commanders star] Jayden Daniels, an elite quarterback, stepping back from the field and being in the NFL is a big deal and we shouldn’t take it lightly because he could be taken away in the blink of an eye. Always be there with excitement and joy, and just remember that your younger self would die to do this.

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Van Ginkel played a vital role in the win, intercepting Daniels after reading a screen pass perfectly on fourth down in Vikings territory.

At 5-8, the Vikings still have very little hope of making the playoffs, but they are still living the dream. That’s what O’Connell wanted to remind his team of, and that’s what Smith was passionate about.

It’s safe to say the Vikings will finish these four remaining games like it’s their last every week because, as these two said, the NFL is never promised.

Make the most of the time you spend playing the game you love.

Give back to the community

Metellus and Van Ginkel enjoyed impacting some kids in their Minneapolis community, partnering with Raising Cane’s for their sixth annual bike giveaway.

The gift of some holiday cheer, and new wheels for those kids to ride on, is even bigger than last year as Raising Cane’s donated more than 4,000 bikes nationwide compared to 2,500 bikes last year.

Josh Metellus and Andrew Van Ginkel smile with their baby while giving a gift of a Raising Cane holiday bike in Minneapolis on December 8, 2026. (raise cane)

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“The event was great,” Van Ginkel said. “You see the smiles on the kids’ faces, and any way we can bring joy and excitement this holiday season and give back to the Boys & Girls Club, it’s special to me. It means a lot and we thank Raising Cane’s for donating these 100 bikes, and they said they’ve donated 4,000 bikes across America. So, it means a lot and I’m excited to be a part of it.”

Metellus added, “I think it’s great that Raising Cane’s is blessing these kids with the opportunity to have a bike and know that the community cares about them. There are people out there who care about furthering their development in this world. To be a part of that is always special. The way I grew up, I always appreciate those things, especially around the holiday season.”

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