Mike Zimmer is a American football coach who was a head coach for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League. Prior to joining the Vikings in 2014, Zimmer previously served as a defensive assistant for the Dallas Cowboys, Atlanta Falcons, and Cincinnati Bengals from 1994-2013.
Mike Zimmer: Press conference| Kellen Mond| Fired| News
Press Conference:
Zimmer deflected questions about his future with the team, Asked to reflect on his eight years in Minnesota, Zimmer said: Let’s not go there today. You want to talk about it tomorrow, then let’s talk about ti tomorrow. This isn’t the time to recollect for eight years.”
Quarterback Kirk Cousins, whose future with the team is also up in the air as he carries a $45 million cap hit into his final season under contract with the Vikings, didn’t go into many details when asked about his time with Zimmer.
“It’s been four years, a real privilege to work with him. I’ll leave it at that and we’ll see what happens,” said Cousins during the Vikings Radio Network postgame show.
Kellen Mond:
Most of the questions and criticisms being hurled in Zimmer’s direction stem from the fact that he’s refusing to use the finale to get an extended look at Mond under center.
There’s also the concern for unnecessary injuries in a game that can’t help or hurt the Vikings in any way. They were eliminated from postseason contention in Week 17, when backup quarterback Sean Mannion filled in for Kirk Cousins at Lambeau Field against the Green Bay Packers. As expected, the Vikings got hammered in that game.
Fired:
The Vikings are expected to move on from head coach Mike Zimmer this week, league sources said, though longtime general manager Rick Spielman is likely to remain with the organization. Zimmer has been in Minnesota since 2014 and quickly helped turn the franchise around, though he is 7-9 for the second straight year.
With one game to play this season, their playoff hopes are gone. Zimmer was nearly let go a few years back, and sources said there was a clear mandate from ownership to be a true contender in 2021.
News:
The Vikings brass has been averse to change over the years and has been very loyal to Spielman, but Zimmer’s abrasive style has been an issue within that team for years, and the need to go in a different direction has seemed clear to many decision makers there in recent weeks, sources said.
Spielman is very close with ownership and is trusted immensely; the team has spent big and has yet to win big, but several league sources said they would be very surprised if Spielman was not a part of the organization in some capacity.
