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Last year was a tough one for the Minnesota Vikings, but head coach Mike Zimmer isn't letting it get him down. After their NFC Championship Game run in 2017, the Vikings went out and signed Kirk Cousins to a massive contract in free agency.
As they seemingly added an established quarterback to a team that had already nearly made the Super Bowl, expectations were understandably high heading into last season. The team fell flat, going 8-7-1 and missing the playoffs. Cousins once again failed to deliver in big games, and the offensive line was a mess all year.
The team fired offensive coordinator John DeFillippo midway through the season, and there was a lot of chaos. The hype around the Vikings has cooled significantly, which is just the way Zimmer likes it.
“I love being doubted,” Zimmer told NFL Network's Tom Pelissero in an interview. “I love to prove people wrong. That's the No. 1 thing for me: Prove people wrong.”
A lot of people have written the Vikings off, so Zimmer will have the opportunity to prove plenty of people wrong.
“Good. Put it on our shoulders,” Zimmer said to Pelissero. “Doesn't bother me. Does not bother me. My whole life, I've been the underdog.”
The frustration surrounding last season sparked rumors that Zimmer was considering retirement, but he shot that speculation down.
“I still feel young and I look young. I haven't really thought about retiring, honestly,” Zimmer told Pelissero. “I don't have any doubts I can go to 70.”
Zimmer is only 63 now, so it sounds like he'll still have a while to accomplish his ultimate goal. “Somebody's gonna win a Super Bowl in Minnesota, and I want it to be me.”
