Kevin O'Connell just explained that viral moment with Anthony Richardson

Earlier this week, a conversation between Kevin O'Connell, head coach for the Minnesota Vikings, and quarterback Anthony Richardson went viral. Richardson, despite having only started 10 games in his NFL career, was benched in favor of 39-year-old veteran quarterback Joe Flacco, a decision that many around the league disagreed with. It looked like an even worse decision after Flacco led the Colts to a humiliating loss against the Vikings.

After the game, O'Connell sought Richardson out, and gave him some words of encouragement.

"Hey, do me a favor and remember something," O'Connell said. "You're a bad dude, and you're going to play a long time in this league. Go to work every day. Good things will happen for you. I still believe in you. These guys do. Shane [Steichen] does too. Man, this organization loves you. Go to work."?

That interaction quickly went viral, with many people applauding not only the sportsmanship between the two, but also O'Connell's decision to lift up someone who has clearly been struggling. It also raised some questions - are the Vikings interested in getting Richardson from the Colts after the season is over? Some think so, and as Kevin Seifert pointed out, the Vikings had been extremely interested in drafting him before the Colts got him.

Whatever may happen down the road, O'Connell said today that he was just looking to encourage Richardson who was reported devastated at the news of his benching - and understandably so.

O'Connell has since given the reason behind his interaction with Richardson.

"I wanted to let him know how I felt," O'Connell told ESPN. "And whether it meant something to him, or not, didn't matter. And I think it's a good thing for everybody in society to do. If you've got the ability to help somebody else in circumstances that maybe as they're working through it are less than ideal, but there is a road and a path -- a rather large one in my opinion to him having have a very, very successful NFL career -- [you should].

"Quarterback journeys are what they are, and every single one of them has their own story. And I just felt like if I can have an opportunity to just let him know how I feel about him, and not only him and where he's at now but where's I think he's going in the future, I thought it was a good moment to tell him that. I'm just a big fan, and if you have something to say to uplift somebody else, you might as well say it and not keep it to yourself."