Patrick Peterson Has an Endorsement(s) for the Vikings Next HC
Out of nowhere in the spring of 2021, free-agent cornerback Patrick Peterson decided he wanted to play for Mike Zimmer and the Minnesota Vikings. Unrecruited, Peterson chose Minnesota as his new gridiron home with Zimmer as the luring factor.
Now, as free agency begins for Peterson again in 2022, Zimmer is no longer the head coach of the franchise. So, it is unclear if Peterson will return to Minnesota for the 2022 season. In December, Peterson mentioned his dream to play for the Dallas Cowboys:
“Growing up, my dreams were to be a Cowboy. But at the end of the day, that didn’t happen [but I’ve] still got time on the table because I still got some tread still left on the tires.”
The Cowboys are a playoff team in 2021, so Peterson landing in Dallas seems like a sensible transaction in the future. Peterson wants to win down the stretch of his illustrious career, peppered with eight Pro Bowls.
If Peterson does not skedaddle, the 31-year-old has thoughts on the Vikings upcoming search for a new skipper. Peterson hosts a podcast called All Things Covered and said this as an endorsement:
“I would love to see Lefty [Byron Leftwich] get a good coaching opportunity. If they want to go defense again, I would love to see coach [Todd] Bowles,” said Peterson. “With the history of Minnesota, they always tend to pick defensive-minded coaches. If they want to go that route, I think Bowles would be a great pick—just not only what he was able to do over the last two seasons but his resume as far as defense in general. It speaks very highly. …I know they have Doug Pederson on the lookout. I think he’ll be a good head coach as well.”
As of Saturday, January 15th, the Vikings will indeed chat with Bowles about the head coaching vacancy. It remains to be seen if Leftwich will get an audition.
Because the Tampa Bay Buccaneers hoisted a Lombardi trophy last season, the coaching staff in western Florida is coveted. Never mind the Brady magic. Bruce Arians’ coaching staff is the place to be for head coaching candidacies.
If one of the goals is to retain Peterson this offseason — the Vikings only have Cameron Dantzler under contract for starting cornerbacks — chatting with Leftwich or Bowles is an astute strategy. Peterson may have already decided to vamoose the Vikings — or perhaps he’ll return.
The Vikings interviewed Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett on Sunday — even though the team does not yet have a general manager. Hackett needed a session because the Packers are about to embark on a playoff push, and an embargo sets in for interviews until Green Bay loses.
Minnesota is also scheduled to speak with Dan Quinn, DeMeco Ryans, Kellen Moore, Jonathan Gannon, and Kevin O’Connell about the head coaching job.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sally from Minneapolis. His Viking fandom dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).
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