Vikings end coach Zimmer era

The Minnesota Vikings fired head coach Mike Zimmer and general manager Rick Spielman, signaling a regime change at the franchise, according to multiple reports.

Zimmer, 65, was hired by Vikings owners Zygi and Mark Wilf in 2014 after spending six seasons as defensive coordinator with the Cincinnati Bengals (2008-13). He held the same position with the Atlanta Falcons in 2007 and with the Dallas Cowboys from 2000-06. Zimmer began his NFL coaching career with the Cowboys in 1994 and coached at the college level from 1979 to 1993.

This is the first time in Zimmer’s career that he has been fired.

In eight seasons with the Vikings, Zimmer had a 72-56-1 record and reached the postseason three times (2015, 2017, 2019) with two playoff wins. Minnesota reached the NFC Championship Game in 2017 with the league’s best defense.

Zimmer’s firing comes after Minnesota’s defense hit an all-time low this season, contributing to the team’s 8-9 record. After setting a mark for the most points allowed in the final two minutes of a half in the last 20 seasons with 107 in 2020, the Vikings hit a low point this year with 128 points allowed in the final two minutes of a half.

Spielman, 59, joined the Vikings in 2006 as vice president of player personnel and was promoted to general manager in 2012.

The Vikings made the playoffs six times during Spielman’s time as executive, reaching the NFC Championship Game twice, in the 2009 and 2017 seasons.

Spielman led the Vikings’ draft preparations in 2007 when the team drafted running back Adrian Peterson with the seventh overall pick. Peterson was named Offensive Rookie of the Year and later NFL Most Valuable Player in 2012. Spielman also selected wide receiver Justin Jefferson with the No. 22 overall pick in the 2020 draft. This season, Jefferson set the record for most receiving yards during a player’s first two seasons in the NFL.

Spielman, however, will always be tied to the signing of quarterback Kirk Cousins, who came to the Vikings as a free agent in 2018 after signing a record three-year, fully guaranteed $84 million contract. The Vikings made the playoffs just once since Cousins came to the team.

Overall, the Vikings were 132-123-2 during the regular season and 3-6 in the playoffs during Spielman’s tenure with the team.