Mike Zimmer Biography

Mike Zimmer is an American football head coach who is currently the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). Zimmer previously was a defensive coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons, Cincinnati Bengals, and Dallas Cowboys.

 

Mike Zimmer Age

Zimmer was born on June 5, 1956 in Peoria, Illinois, United States. He is 63 years old as of 2019.

Mike Zimmer Family

Zimmer is the son of Ann Zimmer and Bill Zimmer, former NFL player and coach, who died on August 12, 2015 at age 84. He has two siblings Karen Bates and Bill Zimmer Jr.

Mike Zimmer Wife

Zimmer was married to Vikki Zimmer untill her death in 2009. His wife died unexpectedly at their Ohio home on October 8, 2009. Three days later, Zimmer was awarded the game ball by Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis after the team’s 17–14 victory over the Baltimore Ravens.

Mike Zimmer Children | Mike Zimmer Daughter

Zimmer is a father of three children: Adam, Corri, and Marki. His son, Adam Zimmer, is the current linebackers coach for the Vikings. He also served as an assistant linebackers coach with the New Orleans Saints during their Super Bowl-winning season.

Mike Zimmer Eye

October 31, 2016 Monday Night Football game against the Chicago Bears, Zimmer suffered a detached retina. On November 30, 2016, he underwent emergency eye surgery forcing him to miss the Vikings’ Thursday Night Football game against the Dallas Cowboys.

Mike Zimmer Salary

Zimmer earns an annual salary of $4 Million.

Mike Zimmer Net Worth

Zimmer has an estimated net worth of $6 million which he has earned from his career as a football head coach.

Mike Zimmer Contract

On July 28, 2016, Mike Zimmer signed a contract extension with the Vikings. The terms of the contract were however not disclosed.

Mike Zimmer Playing career

In high school, Mike was a successful multi-sport athlete who earned all-conference honours in football (1972–73), baseball, and wrestling at Lockport Township High School in Lockport, Illinois. Zimmer enrolled at Illinois State University, majoring in physical education.

Mike played quarterback in 1974, but he redshirted the following year and moved to linebacker in 1976 after breaking his thumb. A neck injury prematurely ended his playing career that same year. Zimmer’s college teammates were positively influenced by his constantly “up” attitude, especially during hot August pre-season double workouts. Zimmer backed up quarterback Bob Lopez in 1974, who later went on to set many of Illinois State’s passing records.

Mike Zimmer Coaching Career

College

His first coaching job was as a part-time defensive assistant at the University of Missouri from 1979–1980. Zimmer then coached at Weber State College from 1981-1988, serving as the inside linebackers coach from 1981–84, the defensive backs coach from 1985–88, and the defensive coordinator from 1983–88.

From 1989-1993, he served as the defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach for the Washington State Cougars. The Cougars defence ranked eighth in the nation in total defence and second in rushing defence in 1993.

Mike Zimmer Minnesota Vikings | Mike Zimmer National Football League (NFL)

On January 15, 2014, Mike earned his first head coaching position when the Minnesota Vikings hired him to replace Leslie Frazier. He is the 9th head coach in Viking history.

On September 7, 2014, Zimmer earned his first win as the Vikings Head Coach against the St. Louis Rams with a score of 34-6.

Zimmer ended his first year with a record of 7 wins and 9 losses, an improvement over the 2013 record of 5-10-1, and the best record for a first-year head coach in the Minnesota Vikings franchise since Dennis Green in 1992.

In 2015, he improved on his 2014 record by ending the season with a record of 11-5 and winning the NFC North, ending Green Bay’s streak of four consecutive division titles and giving the Vikings their first since 2009. At TCF Bank Stadium, the Vikings lost the wild-card playoff round to the Seattle Seahawks 10–9 while playing in subzero temperatures and the third-coldest game in NFL history.

On July 28, 2016, Mike Zimmer signed a contract extension with the Vikings. The terms of the contract are not disclosed.

During the October 31, 2016, Monday Night Football game against the Chicago Bears, Zimmer suffered a detached retina. On a windy night at Soldier Field, the edge of his play card, which was laminated, blew into his eye.

On November 30, 2016, Zimmer underwent emergency eye surgery forcing him to miss the Vikings’ Thursday Night Football game against the Dallas Cowboys. Special teams coach Mike Priefer served as interim coach for the game. Zimmer finished the 2016 NFL season with a record of 8-8 and the Vikings failed to make the playoffs.

In 2017, he led the Vikings to one of the greatest seasons in franchise history. The Vikings finished 13-3, tallying the seventh-best regular-season record in franchise history in terms of win percentage, and the second-best 16 games regular-season record in franchise history. Only the 1998 Vikings hold a better record at 15-1.

On September 9, 2018, Mike became the 4th head coach in Minnesota Vikings history to get 40 wins. He finished the 2018 NFL season with a record of 8-7-1 and the Vikings failed to make the playoffs.

On February 27, 2019, the Vikings exercised their option to keep Mike Zimmer through 2020.

Mike Zimmer Coaching tree

Notable head coaches under whom Zimmer has served:

  • Mike Price: Weber State (1981–1988), Washington State (1989–1993)
  • Barry Switzer: Dallas Cowboys (1994–1997)
  • Chan Gailey: Dallas Cowboys (1998-1999)
  • Bill Parcells: Dallas Cowboys (2003–2006)
  • Marvin Lewis: Cincinnati Bengals (2008–2013)

Assistants under Zimmer who have become head coaches:

Pat Shurmur: Cleveland Browns (2011–2012), New York Giants (2018–present)