Mike Zimmer receives contract extension from Minnesota Vikings
By John Buhler
The Minnesota Vikings have liked what they’ve seen out of their head coach Mike Zimmer in two years, offering him a contract extension before training camp.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Minnesota Vikings general manager Rick Spielman has announced that the football organization will extend head coach Mike Zimmer. Zimmer has been with the Vikings since 2014 and Spielman has “no doubt that Zimmer is going to be the [Vikings] head coach for a long time.”
#Vikings GM Rick Spielman announces an extension for coach Mike Zimmer. A surprise. "His leadership, his passion has shown the results."
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 28, 2016
#Vikings GM Rick Spielman said talks started right after the playoffs. "There is no doubt Zimmer is going to be our coach for a long time"
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 28, 2016
Zimmer in two years leading the NFC North franchise has gone 18-14, winning the division in 2015 with an 11-5, only to blow a home playoff game to the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Wild Card round.
Before arriving in Minneapolis, Zimmer had been a top-tier defensive coordinator in the NFL since 2000 with the Dallas Cowboys (2000-06), the Atlanta Falcons (2007), and the Cincinnati Bengals (2008-13). Zimmer has been key in the cultural turnaround in the Vikings organization, a team that struggled for consistency for much of the previous decade.
Zimmer is 60 years old and already has one of the better teams in the NFC in the 2016 Vikings. Minnesota should contend with the rival Green Bay Packers for NFC North supremacy this fall. Barring anything catastrophic to their 53-man roster this upcoming season, the Vikings should have no problem getting back into the NFC Playoffs in 2016.
With Zimmer, Spielman, and owner Zygi Wilf all on the same page entering training camp, it could be a special season in the Twin Cities for their NFL franchise, as the Vikings break in brand-new U.S. Bank Stadium this fall.