Zimmer Termination Gets Mixed Reviews from Vikings Players
As it turns out, former Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer wasn’t universally hated — or universally revered — by his players, evidenced in Monday’s commentary following Zimmer’s exit from the franchise.
The Vikings fired Zimmer and general manager Rick Spielman on Monday after the 2021 season concluded.
In the immediate fallout of the franchise cleaning house, Zimmer’s exodus received mixed reviews. Most fans breathed a sigh of relief as the Vikings finished with a 15-18 (.455) record amid the last two seasons or 20th-best in the NFL. For a team stocked with talent like Dalvin Cook, Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen, Kirk Cousins, Eric Kendricks, Harrison Smith, Danielle Hunter, and Anthony Barr — that was not good enough for a ninth act from Zimmer.
Zimmer was always rumored as a frosty personality, linked to “toxic culture” gossip in the last few years. Several coaches in the contemporary NFL are described as player-coaches, and Zimmer emphatically was not that, groomed in the Bill Parcells school of gridiron. Other descendants from Parcells coaching tree — like Bill Belichick and Tom Coughlin — possess a similar attitude. But that doesn’t necessarily rub players the right way in 2021 — at least not when the team is losing.
Eric Kendricks, although not offering a scathing Zimmer review, said the following about Zimmer on the day of his termination:
“I think just having that voice, no matter how big your role is, is important, to listen up and take each other’s feelings into account. I don’t think a fear-based organization is the way to go.”
This heavily implied that Zimmer fosters a no-nonsense culture, which should surprise few.
Moreover. right tackle Brian O’Neill called for more “collaboration” from the next skipper, offering this advice:
“It can be as little as, ‘Hey, how you doing?’ in the hallway. We spend so much time together, and the season’s so long, that little personal things can make a huge difference.”
Evidently, casual human pleasantries were a rarity under the Zimmer-Spielman regime. Or if they were not, O’Neill was not on the list for salutation.
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Not everyone provided negative reviews of the Zimmer experience. Adam Thielen, who played with Zimmer for the entirety of his head coaching career until Monday, said about his former coach:
“I was here the year before he got here, and what he’s done with this team and this organization, he’s left it in a better place. Brought a lot of great people, a lot of great men in that locker room and a lot of great football players, so [I’m] thankful for those guys and all they’ve done.”
Thielen also opined on the future of the Vikings, “We don’t need to blow it up and completely rebuild.”
Zimmer didn’t address any of his former players’ musings, instead saying this about his tenure with the Vikings:
“I want to thank you for your support over these eight years. I’ve grown to love the people of Minnesota, it has become our home. You have been tremendous to my foundation and helping the kids of Minnesota. We have had great sponsors and met so many great people, including my relationship with Bud Grant and all the people in the offices. I have given my heart and soul to this organization and to the players. I have had outstanding assistant coaches who have worked tirelessly. I’m sorry we didn’t get it done. The fans make this place truly special. On Sunday afternoon at U.S. Bank Stadium, it’s an unbelievable atmosphere. I’ll miss coaching the players, some who have been with me for all eight years. I want to thank the players who welcomed me in 2014 and believed in me that I could lead them to be great.”
The Vikings are expected to hire a new general manager and head coach in the next 2-4 weeks.
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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