It’s a done deal. On Wednesday, the Vikings announced the signing of safety George Iloka. 
Iloka was released by the Bengals earlier this week, a move that seemingly came out of nowhere. While Cincinnati preferred to go with younger players in the secondary, plenty of other clubs expressed interest in the hard-hitting veteran. The Cowboys and Raiders both discussed signing Iloka, but he was ultimately drawn to Minnesota in order to reunite with coach Mike Zimmer.
Zimmer was Cincinnati’s defensive coordinator for Iloka’s first two seasons before Zimmer went to Minnesota in 2014. When Iloka became a starter in 2013 under Zimmer, the Bengals’ D ranked third in yards allowed per game (305.5) and tied for fifth in points allowed per game (19.1). His relationship with Zimmer nearly led him to sign with the Vikings as a free agent in 2016.
“If I was going there, I was going because of Zim,” Iloka told Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press back in ’16. “I know what type of locker room he has there just by the type of coach he is.’’
The Vikings missed out on Iloka, but they did manage to re-sign strong safety Andrew Sendejo to a reasonably priced four-year, $16MM deal. Now, Iloka may take Sendejo’s place in the starting lineup.
This has been a tremendous offseason for the Vikings’ defense, and the team as a whole. In the last six moths, the club has signed quarterback Kirk Cousins, defensive lineman Sheldon Richardon, and now Iloka. They’ve also managed to extend key players such as defensive end Danielle Hunter, linebacker Eric Kendricks, and wide receiver Stefon Diggs. The last major item on the agenda is an extension with linebacker Anthony Barr, who says he badly wants to stay with the Vikings beyond the final year of his current deal.
Iloka has 76 career starts to his credit with nine career interceptions and two forced fumbles.
The kind of player you don’t appreciate until he’s gone. Eh, Cincinnati?
Exactly. I’m a Steelers fan but I know that Iloka is a solid player who doesn’t make many mistakes. Jessie Bates may turn out to be a stud replacing Iloka, but until then it will hurt Cincy at least a little
If it was a “better a year early than a year late” release, I can understand it. Time will tell.
He’s more of a strong safety than free safety and so is Shawn Williams, who is better. Bengals needed a free safety who can get picks which is exactly why they drafted Bates and why they entertained Coleman and Reid before the draft. Yeah they saved money that’ll go to Geno and Carlos but this was a schematic move more than a financial one, despite what Rappaport said. 9 interceptions in 5 years isn’t very much
Cincy is a terrible ran organization. Let Zim get away. Let the best vets leave in free agency every season. And make questionable extension signings. Lewis should of been gone 4 years ago.
Yeah, how Marvin Lewis still has a job is beyond me. And I’m a Browns fan.
I’m convinced he has incriminating photos of Mike Brown.
Photos of Brown doing the Ickey Shuffle would be priceless….lol.
What vets did they let leave besides Zeitler and Whitworth? They planned on letting them go years before when they drafted Ogbuehi and Fisher. Granted those two are busts but they invested a 1st and a 2nd in the same draft
Great addition for the Vikings! Well ran organization. While others are looking these guys just keep putting together a championship caliber team..
Thank you!
What’s your team?
Lol….championship caliber….still have an overpaid average qb and still have a ho hum WR corps. No….you’re not even the best in your division.
That ho hum WR corps smacked yours down last year with a much lower rated QB. Put any receiving combo up against them in any game and see how your fantasy points look.