Kevin O’Connell makes emotional statement as LA | NFL News

Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell has issued an emotional statement over the “tragedy” that has befallen California, following the choice to relocate his aspect’s playoff sport towards the Los Angeles Rams to Arizona on account of raging wildfires.

Firefighters have been tirelessly battling the fires since they erupted on Tuesday, pushed by highly effective Santa Anna winds from northwest Los Angeles.

The fires have now unfold throughout more than 3,000 acres due to the winds, inflicting injury to over 1,000 constructions and claiming at the least 10 lives, as reported by Los Angeles County Fire Department chief Anthony Marrone. In response to the escalating disaster, California governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency.

On Thursday, the NFL determined to shift Monday’s wildcard showdown between the Rams and Vikings. The Rams, with a 10-7 document, had secured the No. 4 seed and had been scheduled to host the 14-3 Vikings at SoFi Stadium, however the sport was moved to a impartial venue – the Arizona Cardinals’ State Farm Stadium – due to the fires.

O’Connell, who has personal connections to the affected space, spoke emotionally concerning the devastation to Mirror US Sport.

The 39-year-old stated: “Southern California is near and dear to my heart. I’ve got so many relationships, not just with the Los Angeles Rams, but just people from growing up there that I know have been impacted. There are a couple friends of mine that did lose homes in the Palisades fire.

“Having lived it – there have been some fairly important fires proper in our hometown, after which after I was at San Diego State my senior 12 months, we had a sport postponed for about 10 days, perhaps even two weeks as a result of of the fires and the smoke and issues like that.

“For many people who watch the news and see the clips, it’s hard to probably imagine that this is a real thing. But for the folks in Southern California, it’s something that they’ve experienced before and it’s a tragedy.

“My ideas and my prayers have been with all of these people and the primary responders and simply everyone impacted as a result of one thing as easy as being evacuated out of your home, pressured to go away your home for an unknown quantity of time is extremely impactful. And then not realizing in case your home and your belongings are going to be there once you get back is wildly important and impactful. So that is the place my thoughts’s been at with reference to those that are literally experiencing that.”

O’Connell is confident his team will lock in and remain unaffected despite the last-second change of venue, adding: “We’re going to get on a aircraft and we will go play a soccer sport. It’s simply the place’s the aircraft going to land? And we discovered yesterday like everyone else, we will be heading to Phoenix to tackle a actually good soccer crew.”

“The previous expression that you could possibly play these video games anyplace, anytime is being validated this week as a result of a lot is on the road. The mentality that your crew has to have is you will play anyplace, anytime if you happen to’re lucky enough to get an alternative, which we did earn. We’re going to go put our best foot ahead and attempt to get a win.”

The LA Kings and Lakers have already postponed their respective video games due to the fires, with Lakers head coach J. J. Redick revealing his household has misplaced their home in Pacific Palisades. The Vikings are set to face the Rams at State Farm Stadium within the NFL wildcard spherical on Monday, January 13.