Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer lauded the fans of Minnesota after signing a three-year contract extension on Saturday.
Zimmer said the fans have been “outstanding,” also saying he loves the “culture” in the state of Minnesota (via the team's website):
“The fans have been outstanding to me. I love the culture in the state of Minnesota. I love the way that they've opened their arms to myself and our [Mike Zimmer Foundation],” he said. “Hopefully we can continue to build upon this and get to where we need to be, which is in the Super Bowl.”
Zimmer's extension will take him through the 2023 season.
The Peoria, IL native took over as Vikings head coach in 2014. After a 7-9 start to his head coaching career, Zimmer led Minnesota to an 11-5 record and a playoff berth in 2015.
The Vikings missed the playoffs in 2016. But Zimmer and Co. captured the NFC North crown with a 13-3 record in 2017, winning a thrilling divisional playoff matchup against the New Orleans Saints before bowing out against the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship Game.
These past two years have evoked a similar pattern. The Vikings missed the playoffs in 2018 but earned a Wild Card berth in 2019.
Zimmer has helped build a dominant defense in Minnesota, mostly due to the strength of the front seven. The Vikings lost a number of players in the secondary this offseason, but Zimmer is confident the new group can come in and produce results.
In any case, the gritty head coach seems to be a good fit for a gritty fan base in Minnesota.
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