Jay Gruden prior to the game against the Baltimore Ravens at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
Cincinnati Bengals coordinators Jay Gruden and Mike Zimmer are two of the best in the business at their respective jobs, with Zimmer being a great candidate for a head coaching gig somewhere. What he has done on Marvin Lewis’s staff over the past few years is nothing short of phenomenal, and he’s one of the best motivators and defensive coaches in the NFL. He would make a good head coach somewhere, and Gruden has also done a solid job of coaching the Bengals offense and has plenty of cred as well.
That’s why it’s not surprising to hear the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport report that the Minnesota Vikings have interest in both Gruden and Zimmer as potential fits for their head coaching vacancy. With Leslie Frazier gone, the Vikings are in need of a head coach and strong coordinators (mostly on defense), because they have major issues on both sides of the ball despite some great talent. They have issues throwing the ball (no franchise QB) and defending the pass (awful secondary, especially at corner), and that’s definitely not a good combination of crippling talent deficiencies.
The Vikings will be hoping that the Bengals are bounced out in the playoffs against the San Diego Chargers this week so that they can interview both candidates, but the Bengals are the favorites. Dan Quinn, Todd Bowles, Adam Gase, and Darrell Bevell are four candidates for the job, and it was also reported a couple of days ago that the Vikings would interview Zimmer; they’ll have to wait on that.