Minnesota Vikings: Mike Zimmer is worthy of his extension
By Luke Sims
Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike zimmer is the most exciting coach the team has had in years and is well deserving of an extension.
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The Minnesota Vikings have announced an extension to head coach Mike Zimmer, who has led the team to an 18-14 record in two seasons at the helm. The move, announced via the team’s website, is prudent in a hyper-competitive NFC North.
Zimmer, the only head coach in his division who hasn’t led a team to the Super Bowl, is a no-nonsense head honcho. He is demanding of his players, bringing a legitimacy to the Vikings that hasn’t been felt since the late Dennis Green, who last coached the team in 2001. Since then, even in some positive years under Mike Tice, Brad Childress, and Leslie Frazier, the Vikings didn’t seem to have the right guy at the top of the organization.
With Zimmer it just feels different, even if the 18-14 record doesn’t jump off the page.
"Mike has instilled a very positive atmosphere over the past three years and our players have thrived under his tutelage and leadership. His focus on helping our players develop and maximize potential, individually and collectively, is critical for our current and future success. We believe the continuity established with Mike leading our football team is a very positive step for our organization.” – Zygi Wilf, Owner/Chairman"
The change in culture for the Vikings has been huge. General manager Rick Spielman and Zimmer make an excellent team and have created a defense that can be relied upon in addition to the stalwart running back Adrian Peterson and young franchise quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. The Vikings are (finally) stable.
Zimmer is, in the mind of this writer, the best thing to happen to the Vikings since drafting Peterson. While there isn’t a major track record for the first-time head coach, he has developed a culture that is respected by his team, his division, and the rest of the NFL.
In Elliot Harrison’s 32 coach power rankings (at NFL.com) this offseason, Zimmer was placed 13th. “Despite heading into just his third season as a head man, Zimmer is rapidly climbing this coaching mountain,” writes Harrison. That’s exactly true.
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While many teams flounder, struggling to find the right man for the job, the Minnesota Vikings have already found theirs. They are incredibly wise to lock him in for the foreseeable future right now. Zimmer can lead the Vikings into a new era of success.
Per the Vikings website, terms of the extension have not been disclosed at this time.