The Minnesota Vikings have signed head coach Mike Zimmer to a contract extension. The details for the contact are not yet available. Zimmer has the second most wins in his first two seasons (18) in Vikings history (Dennis Green has 20).
Vikings have signed HC Mike Zimmer to a contract extension.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 28, 2016
Vikings Sign Head Coach Mike Zimmer to Contract Extension
The Vikings finished 7-9 during the first season of Zimmer’s tenure in 2014. It was also the rookie year of quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, who would go on to win the Pepsi Rookie of the Year.
The team went on to finish 11-5 and win the NFC North in 2015 and made the playoffs as the three seed. It was their first division title since the 2009 season. Their quarterback Brett Favre led the Vikings to the NFC Championship game that year.
They were just one kick away from playing the Arizona Cardinals in the divisional round. Down 10-9 to the Seattle Seahawks, a 26-yard field goal from Blair Walsh went wide left and the Vikings season was over.
“Mike has instilled a very positive atmosphere over the past three years and our players have thrived under the tutelage and leadership,” Vikings owner Zygi Wilf said, “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.”
In the season in which they finished 7-9, the Vikings were without running back Adrian Peterson. He was dealing with the child abuse case. In 2015, when the team finished 11-5, two of those losses came on the road due to a strip sack in which the defense recovered. So while the Vikings did okay in 2014 and played better in 2015, they could have been much better than that.
The Vikings also added a great wide receiver in Laquon Treadwell out of Ole Miss via the NFL Draft. The team is also moving into a new facility in U.S. Bank Stadium this coming season. They will play there for the first time on in their Week 2 game on Sept. 18 against the Green Bay Packers.
