The Vikings have found their next defensive coordinators.
Yes, that was plural.
The team announced Monday that Adam Zimmer and Andre Patterson will be co-defensive coordinators for the Vikings in 2020.
Patterson is entering his ninth season with the Vikings and primarily served as the defensive line coach. Over the last six years, the Vikings rank third in the league in sacks, rushing yards allowed and opponent yards per game.
Zimmer is the son of head coach Mike Zimmer. This next season will be No. 7 for him. His main focus will still be on the linebacker unit led by Eric Kendricks and Anthony Barr.
It feels like coach Mike Zimmer will still in charge of playcalling for the second unit, but we’ll likely hear more in the coming months.
Zimmer and Patterson replace George Edwards, who will be the linebackers coach for the Dallas Cowboys in 2020. Edwards’ contract wasn’t extended after the 2019 season.
The team also named Andrew Janocko the wide receivers coach, Daronte Jones the defensive backs coach and Phil Rausher the assistant offensive line caoch.