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Mike Zimmer

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Mike Zimmer
Color photograph of Zimmer walking on a football field, wearing a green jacket and black baseball cap with the Minnesota Vikings logo.
Zimmer with theMinnesota Vikingsin 2017
Dallas Cowboys
Position:Defensive coordinator
Personal information
Born:(1956-06-05)June 5, 1956(age 68)
Peoria, Illinois,U.S.
Career information
High school:Lockport (IL) Township
College:Illinois State
Career history
As a coach:
Career highlights and awards
Head coaching record
Regular season:72–56–1 (.562)
Postseason:2–3 (.400)
Career:74–59–1 (.556)
Recordat Pro Football Reference

Michael Zimmer(born June 5, 1956) is anAmerican footballcoach who is thedefensive coordinatorfor theDallas Cowboysof theNational Football League(NFL). He previously served ashead coachof the NFL'sMinnesota Vikingsfrom 2014 to 2021. Prior to that, Zimmer served as a defensive assistant for the Cowboys,Atlanta Falcons,andCincinnati Bengals.He also wonSuper Bowl XXXwith the Cowboys in 1996.

Playing career

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In high school, Zimmer was a successful multi-sport athlete who earned all-conference honors in football (1972–73), baseball, and wrestling atLockport Township High SchoolinLockport, Illinois.He enrolled atIllinois State University,majoring inphysical education.He played quarterback in 1974, but he redshirted the following year and moved to linebacker in 1976 after breaking his thumb. A neck injury prematurely ended his playing career that same year. His college teammates were positively influenced by his constantly "up" attitude, especially during hot August pre-season double workouts. He backed up quarterback Bob Lopez in 1974, who later went on to set many ofIllinois State'spassing records.[1]

Coaching career

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College

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Zimmer's first coaching job was as a part-time defensive assistant at theUniversity of Missourifrom 1979 to 1980. He then coached atWeber State Collegefrom 1981 to 1988, serving as the inside linebackers coach from 1981 to 1984, the defensive backs coach from 1985 to 1988, and thedefensive coordinatorfrom 1983 to 1988. From 1989 to 1993, Zimmer served as the defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach for theWashington State Cougars.In 1993, theCougarsdefense ranked eighth in the nation in total defense and second in rushing defense.

National Football League

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Dallas Cowboys (first stint)

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He joined theDallas Cowboysin 1994 as an assistant coach of the nickel defense underBarry Switzer.He was promoted to defensive backs coach in 1995 and served in that capacity before being promoted to defensive coordinator in 2000. The2003 Dallas Cowboys' defense gave up the fewest yards in theNFLwhile running an aggressive, speedy4-3 defense.Despite the Cowboys' problems over the years, Zimmer survived several coaching changes (Switzer,Chan Gailey,Dave Campo,Bill Parcells) and was rumored to have been a candidate for the head coaching job at theUniversity of Nebraska(circa 2003). In2005,he implemented the3-4 defensefavored by head coachBill Parcells,although Zimmer had no prior experience with it.

Atlanta Falcons

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Zimmer with Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis in 2011.

WhenBobby Petrinowas hired to coach theAtlanta Falconsearly in 2007, Mike Zimmer agreed to become the new defensive coordinator in Atlanta. Zimmer coached in Atlanta for only one season after Petrino left the Falcons for theUniversity of Arkansasafter thirteen games. Zimmer has been very outspoken against Petrino after Petrino's unexpected departure from Atlanta in 2007.[2]

Cincinnati Bengals

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Zimmer with the Minnesota Vikings in 2014

Zimmer was named the defensive coordinator for theCincinnati Bengalson January 15, 2008. In 2009, Zimmer earned NFL Assistant Coach of the Year honors from Pro Football Weekly/Pro Football Writers and fromCBSSports.com,[3]after guiding the Bengals to the 4th ranked defense in the league. In2011,the Bengals finished with the 7th ranked defense in total yards and 9th ranked defense in points allowed.

In2012,the Bengals finished with the 6th ranked defense in total yards and 8th ranked defense in points allowed,[4]prompting theCleveland Brownsto interview Zimmer for their head coaching vacancy.[5]The Browns eventually hired former offensive coordinatorRob Chudzinskion January 11, 2013.[6]

Minnesota Vikings

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On January 15, 2014, Zimmer earned his first head coaching position when theMinnesota Vikingshired him to replaceLeslie Frazier.Zimmer was the9th head coachin Vikings history.[7]

Zimmer earned his first win as the Vikings' head coach on September 7, 2014, against theSt. Louis Rams,with a score of 34–6. He ended his first year with a 7–9 record, an improvement over the team's2013record of 5–10–1, and the best record for a first-year head coach in theMinnesota Vikingsfranchise sinceDennis Greenin 1992.

In2015,Zimmer improved on his2014record by ending the season with a record of 11–5 and winning theNFC North,endingGreen Bay'sstreak of four consecutive division titles and giving the Vikings their first since2009.[8]AtTCF Bank Stadium,the Vikings lost the wild-card playoff round to theSeattle Seahawks10–9 while playing in subzero temperatures and the third-coldest game in NFL history.[9][10]

On July 28, 2016, Zimmer signed a contract extension with the Vikings. Terms of the contract were not disclosed.

Zimmer suffered adetached retinaduring the October 31, 2016Monday Night Footballgame against theChicago Bears.On a windy night atSoldier Field,the edge of Zimmer's playcard, which was laminated, blew into his eye. Zimmer underwent emergency eye surgery on November 30, 2016, forcing him to miss the Vikings'Thursday Night Footballgame against theDallas Cowboys.Special teams coachMike Prieferserved as interim coach for the game.[11]Zimmer finished the 2016 NFL season with a record of 8–8 and the Vikings failed to make the playoffs.

In2017,Zimmer led the Vikings to one of the greatest seasons in franchise history. The Vikings finished 13–3, tallying the seventh-best regular season record in franchise history in terms of win percentage, and the second-best 16-game regular season record in franchise history. Only the1998 Vikingshold a better record, at 15–1. In the playoffs, the 2017 Vikings beat theNew Orleans Saintsin thedivisional roundwith a last-second touchdown pass fromCase KeenumtoStefon Diggs,which became known as the "Minneapolis Miracle".[12]They then lost theNFC Championship gameto the eventual Super Bowl championPhiladelphia Eagles.

On September 9, 2018, Zimmer became the fourth head coach in Minnesota Vikings history to get 40 wins. The Vikings finished the2018 seasonwith a record of 8–7–1 and failed to make the playoffs after losing a "win-and-in" game to theChicago Bearsduring the final week of the season.

On February 27, 2019, the Vikings exercised their option to keep Zimmer through 2020. On October 24, 2019, Zimmer became just the third coach to surpass 52 franchise wins, surpassingJerry Burns;trailing onlyDennis Green(97) and longtime coachBud Grant(158).[13]

The Vikings were able to return to thepostseasonin2019.After upsetting theNew Orleans Saintsin the wild-card round, winning 26–20 in overtime, Minnesota fell to the top-seededSan Francisco 49ersin the divisional round, 27–10.

In late July 2020, Zimmer signed a three-year contract extension.[14]

Hampered by injuries and opt-outs by many starting defensive players (including defensive endDanielle Huntermissing the entire 2020 season with a neck injury and new free-agent acquisitionMichael Pierceopting out of the season due toCOVID-19), the Vikings suffered a 'down year' with a 7–9 record in 2020, missing the playoffs and finishing third in the NFC North. This was Zimmer's first losing season as a head coach since2014.

The2021season produced similar results to the 2020 campaign finishing with an 8–9 record. On January 10, 2022, Zimmer was fired as head coach of the Minnesota Vikings, ending his eight-year tenure with the team. Zimmer finished his tenure with the Vikings with a 74–59–1 (.556) record which includes a 2–3 (.400) playoff record in eight seasons with the Vikings.[15]

Dallas Cowboys (second stint)

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On February 12, 2024, Zimmer was hired by the Dallas Cowboys to be their defensive coordinator for a second time, now under head coachMike McCarthy.[16]

Head coaching record

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Team Year Regular season Postseason
Won Lost Ties Win % Finish Won Lost Win % Result
MIN 2014 7 9 0 .438 3rd in NFC North — — — —
MIN 2015 11 5 0 .688 1st in NFC North 0 1 .000 Lost toSeattle SeahawksinNFC Wild Card Game
MIN 2016 8 8 0 .500 3rd in NFC North — — — —
MIN 2017 13 3 0 .813 1st in NFC North 1 1 .500 Lost toPhiladelphia EaglesinNFC Championship Game
MIN 2018 8 7 1 .531 2nd in NFC North — — — —
MIN 2019 10 6 0 .625 2nd in NFC North 1 1 .500 Lost toSan Francisco 49ersinNFC Divisional Game
MIN 2020 7 9 0 .438 3rd in NFC North — — — —
MIN 2021 8 9 0 .471 2nd in NFC North — — — —
Total 72 56 1 .562 2 3 .400
  • Before Week 13 of the 2016 season against the Dallas Cowboys, Zimmer had emergency eye surgery and was unable to coach the Vikings that week.[11]

Personal life

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Zimmer is the son of former NFL player and coach, Bill Zimmer, who died on August 12, 2015, at age 84.[17]His wife, Vikki, died unexpectedly at theirOhiohome on October 8, 2009. Three days later, Zimmer was awarded the game ball byBengalshead coachMarvin Lewisafter the team's 17–14 victory over theBaltimore Ravens.[18]

Zimmer has three children:Adam,Corri,andMarki.[19]Adam was a coach and served as an assistant linebackers coach with theNew Orleans Saintsduring theirSuper Bowlwinningseason.[20][21]Adam Zimmer died unexpectedly on October 31, 2022.

References

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  1. ^"Bob Lopez bio".University of Michigan Athletics. Archived fromthe originalon June 22, 2017.RetrievedJanuary 23,2016.
  2. ^Yasinskas, Pat (October 20, 2010)."Mike Zimmer rips Bobby Petrino".ESPN.RetrievedJune 3,2021.
  3. ^Hobson, Geoff."Cincinnati Bengals: Mike Zimmer".Bengals.com. Archived fromthe originalon May 29, 2013.RetrievedAugust 8,2013.
  4. ^"cleveland.com".Stats.cleveland.com. November 1, 2011.RetrievedAugust 8,2013.
  5. ^Cabot, Mary Cay (January 9, 2013)."Cleveland Browns Interviewing Rob Chudzinski, Mike Zimmer".Cleveland.RetrievedJanuary 23,2016.
  6. ^"Browns name Rob Chudzinski coach".Espn.go.com. January 11, 2013.RetrievedAugust 8,2013.
  7. ^Mortensen, Chris (January 15, 2014)."Vikings hire Mike Zimmer as coach".ESPN.com.RetrievedJanuary 15,2014.
  8. ^Delong, Katie (January 3, 2016)."Green Bay Packers fall to Minnesota Vikings 20–13 in NFC North Division championship game".fox6now.com.FOX News.RetrievedJanuary 23,2016.
  9. ^"Vikings, Seahawks Play 3rd Coldest Game in NFL History".KARE.Minneapolis, Minnesota. Associated Press. January 10, 2016.RetrievedJanuary 23,2016.
  10. ^Vensel, Matt (January 11, 2016)."Vikings Miss Late Field Goal Attempt, Lose 10–9 to Seahawks".Star Tribune.Minneapolis, Minnesota.RetrievedJanuary 23,2016.
  11. ^abGoessling, Ben (December 1, 2016)."Mike Zimmer has emergency eye surgery, won't coach Thursday".ESPN.
  12. ^Dyer, Kristian (February 7, 2018)."Stefon Diggs will never tire of attention after 'Minneapolis Miracle'".Sporting News.RetrievedJune 2,2021.
  13. ^Peters, Craig (February 27, 2019)."Spielman: Mike Zimmer's Contract Extended Through 2020".Vikings.com.
  14. ^Williams, Charean (July 24, 2020)."Mike Zimmer's extension through 2023 finalized".NBC Sports.RetrievedJuly 25,2020.
  15. ^"Vikings Announce General Manager & Coaching Changes".www.vikings.com.RetrievedJanuary 10,2022.
  16. ^Harris, Nick."Cowboys agree to terms with Mike Zimmer as defensive coordinator".dallascowboys.com.RetrievedFebruary 12,2024.
  17. ^"Mike Zimmer's Father, a Coach's Coach, Dies at 84".Twin Cities. August 13, 2015.RetrievedJanuary 23,2016.
  18. ^Reedy, Joe (October 9, 2009)."Bengals coach's wife dies".The Cincinnati Enquirer.Archived fromthe originalon December 4, 2009.RetrievedJune 3,2021.
  19. ^"Get To Know Mike Zimmer, The New Head Coach Of The Minnesota Vikings".Archived fromthe originalon January 16, 2014.RetrievedJanuary 16,2014.
  20. ^"Vikings Announce 2014 Coaching Staff".Minnesota Vikings. February 6, 2014. Archived fromthe originalon January 12, 2016.RetrievedJanuary 23,2016.
  21. ^"Scenes from a Super sideline".NFL.February 10, 2010.
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