Days away from what may be his final game as Head Coach of the Vikings, Mike Zimmer is expressing pride in his tenure with the team. As NFL.com’s Kevin Patra writes, Zimmer says, “regardless of anything that goes on after the season, I can stand proud”. 
The quote comes from an interview the 65-year-old conducted with team broadcaster Paul Allen. He adds, “when I walk into a stadium like Lambeau [Field] or I walk into U.S. Bank Stadium and I say to myself, ‘a billion people would love to be sitting here right now and doing this job’ “.
Zimmer was hired in January 2014 to replace Leslie Frazier in what was his first head coaching position. His track record includes an 11-5 record in his second year in charge, earning the team its first NFC North crown in six years, as well as a 13-3 season in 2017 that ended with a loss in the NFC Championship game. On the other hand, it also includes back-to-back losing seasons in 2020 and 2021, and, if the Vikings lose on Sunday to the Bears, a year with double-digit losses for the first time in his tenure. Minnesota has one playoff victory in the last four seasons.
Zimmer has 71 career wins as head coach, which ranks him third in franchise history, and he is currently under contract through 2023. However, uncertainty has surrounded his position throughout the season, in which his usually-solid defensive unit ranks 31st in the league allowing over 385 yards per game. Zimmer is aware of the internal and fan-driven pressure mounting during a roller coaster season including eight one-score losses: “I do think it’s different that people can talk about your job and being let go and things like that and not understanding the effects of all your coaches, effects of all the players, effects of their families and they say it after you lose every week”.
The 7-9 Vikings end the year hosting the 6-10 Bears with many questions to be answered once the offseason begins.
*Principal Skinner voice*
We both know Mike Zimmer has no Vikings future.
At one time, the Vikes had a very good D, but signing Captain Kirk cost them!
Cousins has cost them a lot of cap flexibility for other needs, but he didn’t force them to ignore defense with top draft picks. Over the last five drafts, they’ve spent a total of two picks of the first two rounds on defensive players. One was Gladney, who they cut for off field reasons, and one was Hughes, who didn’t play well until he got to his second team.
And Gladney was a Criminal Justice Major in college !!
There is much mentioned of the eight one score losses, but there have also been six wins by eight or less points. Zimmer talked earlier this week about the season and mentioned the close losses, but never said a word about the one score wins. Can’t blame him as he is trying to put a good spin on how close the Vikings were to a successful year. Realistically however you can’t talk about the one without the other.
So they easily could be sitting at 1-15 now instead of 7-9!
That DOES speak volumes about the futures of: Zimmer, his coaching staff, the GM and some of the players.
They could just as easily be 15-1 . . .
Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades. The guy simply can’t get the team over the hump. Along with no help from the front office. Time for a new group from the GM on down. Clean house completely and get a new flavor in there. Don’t keep any of the Spielman/Zimmer regime. Do this…or you’ll completely waste Cook and Jefferson’s careers.
Saw him at Panda Express yesterday and asked him how he felt about this coming Sunday. He said, “good.”
Was he filling out a job application????
The front office provided Zimmer with 20 7th round draft picks during his tenure and wonder why he wasn’t able to deliver winners?
Zim is a good coach, he will have opportunities if the Vikes let him go.
Jaguars?
Maybe if the Vikes let him go.
You think after this year, they’re gonna hand Trevor Lawrence to a 65-year old who’s underperformed in recent years and is famous for his bristly personality and preference for the run?
Based on his play focusing on the run might be the best thing for Lawrence.
With a hot girlfriend like his he probably would like to spend time at home.
Never heard of this until now. Holy crap.
Same! Katarina Miketin sure is gorgeous.
The cradle-robber should dump her.
He was a better coach when he was focused on the team.
No wonder he’s distracted and lacks team focus now
By looking at him…it’s hard to tell who the girlfriend is…
How can an offense this talented, with a defensive minded head coach, have such a bad record?
A defensive minded head coach doesn’t always lead to a strong defense. Their defense doesn’t have all that much talent anymore, their interior offensive line can’t pass block, and there’s only so much a good QB and a great WR can do.
His Right Eye looks kinda different from the left. Did he end up losing the eye and now has a glass eye?
Nah, thats because of the eye surgeries Zim has had!
I was in Zim’s corner for a long time, but I just couldn’t take it anymore. The team just never got any better this year and each and every week was the same old thing of allowing teams to score at the end of the half and at the end of the game. If I was a gambling man, I could’ve made huge bucks betting on the final play of the game against the Vikes. You knew our opponent was going to score. Horrible.