The Vikings are eyeing a long-term future with Mike Zimmer. They are finalizing a multiyear extension with their seventh-year head coach, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com reports (on Twitter).
Zimmer, 64, and the Vikings previously agreed on a new deal just last year, but that came in the form of an exercised option for 2020. He was again set to enter a lame-duck season.
Although Zimmer waited a long time to become a head coach, he has been Minnesota’s most successful leader since Dennis Green. The Vikings have consistently deployed a high-end defense under the longtime NFL defensive coach, and they have continued to make playoff appearances despite Zimmer’s team having yet to use the same starting quarterback in three straight seasons.
Zimmer has led the Vikings to playoff berths with three different signal-callers — Teddy Bridgewater, Case Keenum and Kirk Cousins — and has overseen five straight top-10 scoring defenses. Minnesota has never ranked below 11th in points allowed under Zimmer.
While the Vikings spent the past several seasons building around a similar nucleus, Zimmer will be tasked with leading a reshaped contender this year. Minnesota cut Xavier Rhodes and Linval Joseph, let Trae Waynes and Mackensie Alexander walk in free agency and traded Stefon Diggs. They also appear to be set to move on from 10-year defensive end Everson Griffen, who remains a free agent. The Vikings are counting on their longtime leader to keep the team’s playoff window open with some younger pieces.
Only six teams — the Patriots, Saints, Steelers, Ravens, Seahawks and Chiefs — have longer-tenured HCs than the Vikings. Zimmer is 57-38-1 in his six-season run. He is the third-winningest coach in the franchise’s 59-season history.
Well deserved, consistently getting to the playoffs is a big deal and I can’t name many coaches I’d rather have. Going to have a lot of work to do to retool the cornerbacks but I can’t think of many I’d rather at the helm for that.
Agreed. It’ll also help to alleviate some of the pressure associated with being a lame-duck coach. Now Zimmer needn’t worry about parting ways with the organization if the team disappoints, knowing he has faith stemming from the front office
Seems like working and thinking aren’t your strong suites
Um, what?
What about spelling?
Yeah, really.