Tag: Mike Zimmer

Should the Houston Texans hire Mike Zimmer as coach?

The Minnesota Vikings are done with Mike Zimmer. Should the Houston Texans swoop in and make him their next coach?

The Minnesota Vikings are moving on from the Mike Zimmer era.

As part of a housecleaning move, the Vikings fired Zimmer and general manager Rick Spielman at the end of Minnesota’s regular season. For the second consecutive year, the Vikings have failed to make the playoffs, and the worst part is the Vikings never went a game over .500 since their 2019 divisional playoff loss at the San Francisco 49ers.

Just because it didn’t end well in Zimmer doesn’t mean it can’t have a joyous chapter in another NFL city.

Here is what the Texans would get if they decided to move on from David Culley and hire Zimmer.

Adam Thielen not laying all of the blame on Mike Zimmer and Rick Spielman

Thielen isn’t putting all of the blame on Zimmer and Spielman.

Adam Thielen is looking forward to seeing what the change a new regime brings to the Minnesota Vikings organization, but at the same time, he isn’t willing to lay all of the blame for the team’s struggles at the feet of former head coach Mike Zimmer and GM Rick Spielman.

When speaking with media members in the aftermath of the Black Monday firings, Thielen spoke about looking in the mirror and self-improving for the team to get to where it wants to go.

“Everyone has kind of got to look themselves in the mirror. Everyone has to figure out a way that they can individually get better,” Thielen said. “At the end of the day, a coaching change alone or a new GM isn’t going to just automatically bring you to the Super Bowl. Us as players, we have to do our part. We could have all done better this year to help this team get over the hump.”

The GM handles the personnel side of things, and the coaches game plan and handle the playing side. But at the end of the day, the players are the ones actually on the football field competing. They have to go out there on a weekly basis and figure out how to consistently win games.

That isn’t an attempt to absolve Spielman and Zimmer from allowing the team to devolve into this stale state of mediocrity over the last few years. It’s simply a reminder that it takes everyone working together to build and sustain a winning culture.

“I’m looking forward obviously to a new freshness and excitement around here,” said Thielen. “We’ll see what that brings us. We don’t know what that’s going to look like in a month or two, but I’m excited about what that could be.”

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Fans react to Vikings firing Mike Zimmer and Rick Spielman

Fans react to Vikings firing Mike Zimmer and Rick Spielman.

There are more questions than answers now that the Minnesota Vikings have basically wiped the slate clean with the Mike Zimmer and Rick Spielman firings. Excitement, anxiety, sadness—Vikings fans are feeling every emotion right now.

Zimmer didn’t exactly walk into the best of situations in the aftermath of Leslie Frasier’s departure, but he was able to roll up his sleeves and turn the team into something respectable enough to win two division titles and clinch three playoff appearances.

Meanwhile, Spielman has served as the general manager for the organization for a decade. That amount of time on the job isn’t given to just anybody. It just shows the deep amount of faith the organization had in him to get the job done.

The reactions from fans over Monday’s firings are still coming in. Here are some of the things they’ve been saying:

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Mike Zimmer: ‘I’m sorry we didn’t get it done’

Mike Zimmer releases a statement following Monday’s firing.

The Minnesota Vikings never got over the hump in the Mike Zimmer era, but that doesn’t mean the former eight-year head coach didn’t give the organization, team and fans everything he had.

After being named among the Black Monday firings, in a released statement, Zimmer took the time to be thankful and reflect on his time in Minnesota.

“I have given my heart and soul to this organization and the players. I have had outstanding assistant coaches who have worked tirelessly. I’m sorry we didn’t get it done. The fans make this place truly special,” said Zimmer. “On Sunday afternoon at U.S. Bank Stadium, it’s an unbelievable atmosphere. I’ll miss coaching the players, some who have been with me for all eight years. I want to thank the players who welcomed me in 2014 and believed in me that I could lead them to be great.”

There will obviously be some mixed opinions on Zimmer’s exit.

It’s no secret that he dealt with his fair share of adversity over the years that was completely beyond his control.

Losing former Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, a first-round pick on the rise at the time, to a devastating knee injury in 2016 and former offensive coordinator Norv Turner walking out on him midway through the season of the same year are two of the biggest examples.

And then there were those eyebrow-raising comments from veteran linebacker Eric Kendricks on Monday. He put the ball in Zimmer’s court to speak on their relationship standing, and then he went to talk about how a “fear-based” culture isn’t the way to go about things.

Whatever anyone felt about Zimmer’s run as head coach is obviously in the rearview at this point, as the Vikings look to turn the page and start anew.

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Eric Kendricks comments on ‘fear-based’ culture and former coach Mike Zimmer

Eric Kendricks had some interesting things to say on Mike Zimmer and locker room culture.

Minnesota Vikings linebacker Eric Kendricks didn’t hold back when asked about his relationship with former head coach Mike Zimmer, along with giving his thoughts on what makes for a good culture in a football locker room.

“A culture where communication is put at the forefront,” Kendricks told media members on Monday. “No matter what your role is on the staff, you having a voice and being able to communicate things you think could facilitate wins. I think just having that voice, no matter how big your role is—it’s important to listen up and take each other’s opinions into account. I don’t think a fear-based organization is the way to go.”

News of Zimmer’s firing, along with former general manager Rick Spielman, sent shockwaves throughout the Vikings fan base.

Kendricks was drafted by the team in 2015, and he has been around for nearly all of the Zimmer era in Minnesota. He was there for the highs of riding the Case Keenum train all the way to the Conference Championship game in 2017 to the lows of finishing in back-to-back seasons with a losing record.

“We put a lot of work in together, and we had a great run,” Kendricks said on Zimmer. “I feel like there’s some things left out there as far as our relationship is concerned. I think that’s a question you have to ask him.”

The smoke has yet to clear from Monday’s firings, but it’ll be interesting to see what others have to say about the last two years in the Zimmer era.

 

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Dear Mike Zimmer, Thank You For Everything

Thank you, Mike Zimmer.

The Mike Zimmer era is officially over. After going 71-56-1 along with 2-3 in the playoffs in three appearances, his time has come to a close. There are many reasons why the organization is choosing to move on from Zimmer, but his contributions should be celebrated today.

When Zimmer took over for Leslie Frazier, this was a team in disarray. Having gone 5-10-1 the previous season, star receiver Percy Harvin was demanding a trade, and the defense was the worst in football the prior season. In his introductory press conference, Zimmer said he “was born to do this” and called himself a fixer. It turns out that he was right on both accounts.

You can’t tell the story about Zimmer without discussing the trials and tribulations that he endured each season. Most coaches face one or two major calamities in their tenure. Zimmer had the unfortunate luck to face one nearly every season.

2014: Adrian Peterson suspension

2015: Blair Walsh 27-yard field goal

2016: Teddy Bridgewater knee injury/Norv Turner debacle/Nearly going blind

2017: QB injuries/38-7

2018: Everson Griffen’s absence

2019: Stefon Diggs drama

2020: Danielle Hunter

2021: COVID struggles with star players

Every year, Zimmer has had to deal with something, including a tornado of scenarios in 2016 where he nearly lost his vision in one eye, which resulted in over a dozen surgeries. The issues that he had to deal with constantly were arguably unfair, but it comes with the job.

Nothing is ever going to be completely fair for any head coach, but to say that Zimmer had to deal with more than the average head coach is unequivocally true. While most will remember him for the end of his tenure, we should celebrate Zimmer for the job that he did to fix this team.

After Leslie Frazier left the team in near shambles, Zimmer’s no nonsense, blunt mentality proved to be endearing to his players. He flipped the Vikings’ future in just one season, taking the worst defense to the 11th ranked unit in football. By 2017, the Vikings were the top unit in football in both points and yards allowed.

Week in and week out, Zimmer had the Vikings playing their tails off for him and each other, staying competitive in every game, minus a few clunkers. He risked his eyesight for weeks to be on the field with his players, including multiple players who came back to play for him after leaving the team—and attracting former players from other teams.

In his press conferences, he was known to be curt and blunt, but you always knew what he was thinking and where he stood. This was a stark change from what we saw from Brad Childress, who was ornery but never felt genuine. Zimmer gave everything he had to the franchise and the fanbase.

We know the issues he had, and they are a big reason why he has been let go. But I want to propose a toast. Thank you for putting this franchise back on a winning path. Thank you for putting every ounce of your being into this team to try and bring a Super Bowl to a starving Vikings fanbase. Thank you for reminding us what a great defense looks like. Thank you for being honest with us and speaking your mind. Thank you for being you, Mike Zimmer. I wish you nothing but success in your future endeavors. You deserve the absolute best.

 

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5 best options to replace Mike Zimmer as Vikings head coach

Who will replace Mike Zimmer in Minnesota?

The Minnesota Vikings just might have the best head coaching vacancy in the league following Monday’s firing of Mike Zimmer.

They have two of the top offensive skilled position players in football with running back Dalvin Cook and receiver Justin Jefferson. The team has a quarterback that has thrown for over 4,000 yards and 30-plus touchdowns in back-to-back seasons with Kirk Cousins.

And while the defensive numbers were in the dumps this year, there’s plenty to be salvaged on that side of the ball by the right coach.

But who is the right coach?

The team obviously has Super Bowl ambitions, and it would be ridiculous to replace a good coach like Zimmer with just anyone. But there will obviously be plenty of interest from all coaching candidates to join a team with one of the more talented rosters in the league.

Here are the five best options to replace Zimmer as the Vikings head coach.

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Vikings fire Mike Zimmer as head coach

Mike Zimmer is officially out in Minnesota.

After eight NFL seasons, the Minnesota Vikings have terminated Mike Zimmer as head coach, via Ian Rapoport.

There was plenty of speculation that the team was leaning in this direction all the way up to kick-off of the season finale on Sunday against the Chicago Bears.

Even Zimmer recently addressed the swirling rumors about the uncertainty of his job status during an appearance on X’s and O’s with Paul Allen.

“I 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 of the coaches, players and their families. They say it after you lose every week,” said Zimmer. “They don’t go around saying they should fire that doctor or fire that landscape guy or anything like that. It’s just part of the business I guess.”

The Vikings bit the dust with back-to-back losing seasons without a playoff berth.

They have two postseason wins in the Zimmer era, including a 2017 Divisional Playoff victory over the New Orleans Saints that punched their ticket to the NFC Championship. However, they went on to get blown off the field in a 38-7 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

There’s plenty of blame to go around for the Vikings not reaching the desired expectations with such a talented roster. Zimmer is considered to be the first change of many ahead for a losing franchise hoping to right the ship.

Mike Zimmer had a blunt response for criticism of playing starters in the season finale

I guess this means we won’t see Kellen Mond at all.

It isn’t just rookie quarterback Kellen Mond. Minnesota Vikings coach Mike Zimmer isn’t interested in playing any backups in Sunday’s season finale against the Chicago Bears.

He doubled down on his decision to play the starters when speaking with the media on Friday.

“I get these questions. ‘Are we going to play young guys?’ The preseason games—that’s for those guys to play,” said Zimmer. “This is a regular season game, and we’ll approach it as we would the first game of the year to the last game of the year. We grind the same. We do pretty much everything the same, other than maybe we back down a few reps, but we do that at the end of the year anyway. This isn’t the preseason. So we just go about our business like we always have.”

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.

So now, even with the season in the dumps, Zimmer is still willing to risk putting key guys like Cousins, Dalvin Cook and Justin Jefferson, among many others, in harm’s way for no real reason.

This might not be the preseason, but it definitely carries the same reward: nothing.

Mike Zimmer candidly opens up about job status with the Vikings

Zimmer: “I’ve tried my best every single week.”

As Black Monday inches closer, the reality is starting to sink in that these could be the final days of Mike Zimmer serving as the head coach for the Minnesota Vikings.

There’s nothing gleeful or fun about anyone losing their job, but the truth is the Vikings haven’t played up to their potential. Given the level of talent on the team, they were expected to be Super Bowl contenders or—at the very least—playoff contenders.

But Super Bowl aspirations seem like a pipe dream at this point, and after getting rolled on by the Green Bay Packers in Week 17, they have now been eliminated from postseason contention in back-to-back years.

Zimmer might not always talk about it, but he definitely hears the noise from those calling for change.

“I 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 of the coaches, players and their families. They say it after you lose every week,” Zimmer told Paul Allen, during an appearance on X’s and O’s. “They don’t go around saying they should fire that doctor or fire that landscape guy or anything like that. It’s just part of the business I guess.”

Regardless of what happens after Sunday’s season finale against the Chicago Bears, Zimmer appears to have made peace with it through his effort over the years. He truly believes he has given everything he has to the Vikings’ organization.

The team has made it to the playoffs three times in his eight seasons as the head coach, including a conference championship appearance in the 2017 season.

“I’ve tried my best every single week. To me, what’s important is the players and trying to give them my very best each and every time I go out there,” Zimmer said. “But I broke a tooth off about eight weeks ago and still haven’t been to the dentist. I almost lost my eye a couple years ago. So there’s all kinds of things that I’ve tried to do here.”