Monday morning both HC Mike Zimmer and GM Rick Spielman have been fired after a disappointing 8-9 season.
This did not come as a surprise to many as Zimmer and Spielman have missed the playoffs 3 out of the last four seasons since making the NFC Championship.
Mike Zimmer, who has been with the team since 2014, has accumulated a 74-59-1 record over his 8 seasons with the team, including a 2-3 playoff record. Zimmer has won the NFC North twice in 2015 and 2017, along with a wildcard playoff appearance in 2019. A lot of good has happened in Mike Zimmer's time with the Vikings, but with a lot of good comes some bad and the bad just seemed to not stop from the 2020 to 2021 season.
Mike Zimmer has been criticized for his lack of engagement with the offensive side of the ball. Not only that but, the horrendous coaching staff he has put together over the last few seasons. Zimmer has had 4 Offensive Coordinators in the last four seasons. When he hired Klint Kubiak and Adam Zimmer as the OC and DC it almost seemed like a joke to fans and even the players. Hiring his son as Co-DC just because, when you have a guy like Andre Patterson is absurd. Not to mention Klint being named OC clearly because of his father, Gary Kubiak who retired after being the Vikings OC in 2020.
For General Manager Rick Spielman, he was just out of opportunities. Rick was the GM since 2012 and has had an opportunity at multiple "franchise quarterbacks." In 2011, Christian Ponder was drafted in the first round earlier than expected. Although Rick was not yet the GM, he was the Vice President of player personnel from 2006-2011. Rick was a leading factor to this pick which ultimately ended in him being a bust with one lousy playoff appearance carried on the shoulders of Adrian Peterson. Rick also drafted Teddy Bridgewater and splashed in free agency on Kirk Cousins, both in his time in Minnesota leading to 2 playoff appearances in their 6 combined starting seasons. Draft wise Rick has been solid, mostly outside of the first round. Spielman has had some good 1st round picks but has missed a lot in recent years aside from Justin Jefferson. To Rick Spielman's credit though he is tremendous at mid-late round draft picks.
Overall, it was time to move on from both of these guys and go a different direction at Head Coach and General Manager.
The New Era of Vikings football is upon us and I am excited to see what this offseason holds.
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