Defensive guru Mike Zimmer is entering his third season as the Minnesota Vikings’ Head Coach. Since taking over, he has turned one of the league’s worst defenses into one of the league’s stingiest. He has endeared himself to the fans and players with his blunt approach and demand for maximum effort. What you may not know about Zimmer is the hardship and perseverance that he has exhibited to get to this point. Here are some things you need to know about the man guiding the Viking ship.
1. Mike Zimmer is no stranger to adversity.
Mike Zimmer is no stranger to obstacles in life, as he lost his wife Vikki unexpectedly in 2009. He has since established the Mike Zimmer Foundation to honor her giving spirit. “She was the sweetest, kindest, most caring person who’d never say a bad word about anybody,” said Zimmer.
The Cincinnati Bengals Defensive Coordinator at the time led his team to a victory against the Baltimore Ravens three days after the event. Head Coach of the Cincinnati Bengals, Marvin Lewis, presented Zimmer with the game ball.
2. Mike Zimmer is an avid outdoorsman.
When Zimmer isn’t concocting next week’s game plan for the Vikings, you can usually find him outside somewhere hunting or fishing. During the offseason, Zimmer heads back to his outdoor slice of paradise at his home in Northern Kentucky known as “Zimmer Ridge Ranch.” It is there will you will find the Head Coach bass fishing well into the night or hunting those pesky muskrats by day trying to dig through his dam. Most importantly Zimmer likes to enjoy his time off.
“First thing in the morning, I get on the quad and I drive back there and look for animals,” Zimmer said. “I’ll probably do that two or three times a day, just go for a ride. Sip wine at the fire. Take it easy.”
3. He has established the Mike Zimmer Foundation
Earlier this year, Mike Zimmer established the Mike Zimmer Foundation which vows to keep “Vikki Zimmer’s giving spirit alive by providing opportunities to the youth of today to benefit the future of tomorrow.” Recently, the Mike Zimmer Foundation awarded its first academic scholarship for $10,000 to Gabriel Lammers of Lockport Township High School. The funds were gathered following the death of Mike Zimmer’s father Bill as scholarship donations were made by friends and family in lieu of flowers. Bill Zimmer had coached wrestling and football at Lockport Township for over 30 years.
4. Zimmer was rejected five times before finally getting the job with the Vikings.
It’s scary for Vikings fans to think about a Vikings team without Mike Zimmer at the helm leading the way. That fear almost became a reality during the interview process when Zimmer had just been rejected by another team for another head coaching position, and wondered if it was even worth it to go to the second Vikings interview. Luckily he did and the rest is history. “I felt like it was a perfect fit. Since the day I’ve walked in, I don’t think it could have been a better situation for me.” Zimmer said. “Thank God that I did do that. I think what it does is show you, though, is you’ve got to keep persevering all the time, no matter how despondent you get at certain times.”
” When I was thinking about not going on the visit, it had nothing to do with the Vikings. It was just kind of the feeling of a loss until you get over it and then you go about your business.”
5. It’s all in the family
Like the offensive coordinator, Norv Turner, Mike Zimmer has a son on the Vikings coaching staff, 32 year-old Adam Zimmer. Adam Zimmer joined the staff as the Linebackers coach in the same year that his father became the head coach back in 2014. Adam Zimmer got his start with the New Orleans Saints back in 2006 as an assistant linebackers’ coach. Adam got his first chance to coach alongside his dad while serving as the assistant defensive backs coach in 2013 for the Bengals.
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