Zimsu Speculation

#Vikings QB Kirk Cousins on rumors swirling about Mike Zimmer's future: "I think we try to insulate ourselves as much as possible and ignore the noise." He says that whatever happens it's not just one person.

— Chris Tomasson (@christomasson) January 9, 2022

I actually like Zimmer, what I despise is the nepotism.

get rid of the sons, and nephews (but not the cousins....heh, heh) but its too late.

The “All in the Family” experiment has failed

Did Kirk say that from the Plexiglas fortress?

#Vikings QB Kirk Cousins declines to answer when asked if he wants Mike Zimmer back and says: "The noise may be loud for your guys" regarding rumors on Zimmer's future.

— Chris Tomasson (@christomasson) January 9, 2022

Vikings HC Mike Zimmer on job status: 'Not my choice. Not my decision'

"I haven't heard anything about my job status," Zimmer said Sunday when asked if he'd had any discussions with the front office on where he stood.
Asked if he thinks it could be his final game leading the Vikings, Zimmer responded: "Not my choice. Not my decision."
Zimmer's future is in question as the season ends with the Vikings missing the postseason for the second consecutive campaign.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero reported earlier Sunday that all signs point to owners Zygi and Mark Wilfs moving on from Zimmer after eight seasons, but they hadn't communicated any decision to Zimmer or other team officials as of Saturday, per sources informed of the situation.
Zimmer is 72-56-1 in eight seasons with the Vikings after Sunday's win. But the 8-9 finish to a disappointing year could spell the end to the coach's run. While his teams play hard and have talent, ownership could decide the locker room needs a new voice.
The Vikings have gone 2-3 in the postseason under Zimmer.
The 65-year-old didn't want to get into reflecting on his eight years in Minnesota in the immediate aftermath of the season. However, Zimmer did lament the last two seasons, which were disrupted by COVID-19 -- quarterback Kirk Cousins missed last week's elimination loss after testing positive.
"These last two seasons with COVID and the protocols and guys not getting vaccinated, it's been difficult," Zimmer said. "But like I told them last night, I like the way these guys go about their business. We don't have a lot of guys that are just cashing checks."
Whether Zimmer will cash future checks from Minnesota owners will be decided in the coming hours and days.

According to @DWolfsonKSTP, Mike Zimmer's remaining contract (2YR/$16M) is nearly all guaranteed. He ballparks $15 million to fire him. #Vikings pic.twitter.com/kbNG2K3b7C

— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) January 6, 2022

Mike Zimmer: 'I haven't heard anything about my job status'Zimmer didn't want to focus on his job status following Sunday's season finale against the Bears.Joe Nelson2 hours agoThe Mike Zimmer era isn't officially over, but the tone the 65-year-old Minnesota Vikings head coach carried during his postgame press conference following Sunday's 31-17 victory over the Chicago Bears appeared to match reports that he will be fired after eight seasons in Minnesota. 

Zimmer was asked about his job status by Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press. 
"No, I haven't heard anything about my job status," Zimmer said, pointing at Tomasson and saying "I haven't heard anything about yours, either." 
Zimmer added: "Not my choice. Not my decision." 
Zimmer deflected questions about his future with the team, Asked to reflect on his eight years in Minnesota, Zimmer said: Let's not go there today. You want to talk about it tomorrow, then let's talk about ti tomorrow. This isn't the time to recollect for eight years."
Quarterback Kirk Cousins, whose future with the team is also up in the air as he carries a $45 million cap hit into his final season under contract with the Vikings, didn't go into many details when asked about his time with Zimmer. 
"It's been four years, a real privilege to work with him. I'll leave it at that and we'll see what happens," said Cousins during the Vikings Radio Network postgame show.
https://bringmethenews.com/minnesota-sports/mike-zimmer-i-havent-heard-anything-about-my-job-status

Whether or not Vikings owners Zygi and Mark Wilf decide to fire or retain Rick Spielman as general manager and/or Mike Zimmer as coach, the decision will be financial, not emotional. The New Jersey real estate magnates, unsuccessful after 16 seasons in Minnesota trying to win the Lombardi Trophy, have to decide if it’s worth paying off Zimmer and Spielman and, perhaps, QB Kirk Cousins, or absorbing major backlash from season-ticket holders.This deal comes down to money, specifically about $56 million in cash. 
Zimmer and Spielman have two more seasons — nobody knows, by the way, what the Wilfs were thinking when they gave the pair three-year extensions two years ago — on contracts that total a reported $16 million for Zimmer and an estimated $5 million for Spielman. 

Then there’s Cousins’ guaranteed $35 million ($45 million salary cap hit) for next season for a 33-year-old with a 58-59-2 career won-loss record. 
It’s unclear whether Zimmer’s final two contract years are guaranteed, or partially guaranteed or if there’s a buyout. Unfounded rumors last week had the Wilfs bumping Spielman to another front-office position and firing Zimmer. 
What is clear is that the Vikings are a team with no clear direction. 
If Zimmer is fired, Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh would seem a coach with the best chance of turning the Vikings around in a hurry. In his four years as San Francisco 49ers coach, Harbaugh, 58, who is rumored to be interested in returning to the NFL, had a 44-19 won-loss record. In eight seasons with the Vikings, Zimmer is 71-56-1. 

It’s a good bet, though, that Harbaugh would require a $10 million per season contract, and for five years. Harbaugh is devoid of personality, but so is Zimmer. 
And, if Harbaugh’s interest in the NFL is genuine, the Vikings would face major competition from the Miami Dolphins, who are owned by Stephen Ross, who is a big Harbaugh fan. 
If the Vikings release Spielman, look for Dallas Cowboys vice president of player personnel Will McClay to get mentioned for the GM job. 
If Zimmer is fired on Monday, it will be the 30th anniversary of the day the Vikings hired Dennis Green as coach. 
It wouldn’t be surprising if Zimmer, 65, were to take next season off, spend it at his Kentucky ranch while collecting his 2022 paycheck, then join some team as a defensive coordinator. It’s clear his head coaching days would be finished. 
There’s little doubt that Pete Carroll would be interested in the Vikings’ job if he’s ousted by the Seattle Seahawks, but at age 70, a hire in Minnesota is unlikely even though Carroll probably would succeed. 
Two other prospects for the Vikings would be Doug Pederson, 53, who coached the Philadelphia Eagles to the Super Bowl championship at U.S. Bank Stadium four years ago, and Josh McDaniels, the New England offensive coordinator who has developed rookie Mac Jones into a 10-victory QB. McDaniels, 45, agreed to take the Indianapolis Colts’ head job four years ago before backing out. 
Sleeper: Joe Lombardi, 50, the offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Chargers and the son of Vince Lombardi Jr., who was an assistant GM of the Seahawks. You might have heard of his grandfather
https://www.twincities.com/2022/01/08/charley-walters-vikings-owners-facing-56-million-question/

5 potential candidates to replace Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer

The Minnesota Vikings are fully expected to fire Mike Zimmer after another season of missing the playoffs. It’s the fifth time in his eight seasons being a head coach that he’ll have to watch from home at his Kentucky ranch.
Zimmer had a fine tenure in Minnesota, reaching the NFC Conference Championship in 2017 but the inconsistency of his team’s play has been maddening at times.
With the Vikings head coach reportedly facing a mandate to reach the playoffs or for the exit door handle, chances are that after a 72-56-1 win-loss record since taking over in 2014, Zimmer’s days in purple are coming to an end.
When Mike Zimmer gets fired in Minnesota, who are some top head-coaching candidates to take over the Vikings? Here are five we’ve hand-selected.
https://sportsnaut.com/5-minnesota-vikings-head-coach-candidates-zimmer/

Minnesota Vikings opt for Super Bowl experience over potential
The Minnesota Vikings already had one of the more experienced head coaches calling the shots, with Zim. Though, the big difference here is he’s a defensive-minded head coach whose defense hasn’t held up in the back end.

Someone like former Philadelphia Eagles head coach Doug Pederson could become a popular candidate for many teams in a similar position as the Vikings are. Of course Pederson won a Super Bowl just five years ago, more recently than any other candidate with head coaching experience in this hiring cycle. Many expect Pederson to be hired this offseason after taking the 2021 football year off.
It doesn’t feel like the Vikes are preparing to hit a full reset button, probably preferring to try and retool as they aim to compete for the playoffs again next season. A good way to ensure they don’t tumble down the standings could be by hiring an experienced hand like Pederson

Kellen Moore provides Minnesota Vikings with bright offensive mind
Despite the Minnesota Vikings’ issues as of late coming on the defensive side of the ball, fans have been clamoring for an offensive-minded head coach instead. There are several worthy candidates, but if it’s a young, rising star the front office seeks, Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Kellen Moore may just be atop the list.

We know it’s not Mike McCarthy making the Cowboys’ offense explosive, since Moore has been there since before McCarthy joined the team. Many suggest Moore is the one who helps the Cowboys’ offense thrive. While having Dak Prescott and a host of weapons at his arsenal surely helps, it’s the play-calling and play designs that help them maintain their high-scoring pace, which at 31.2 points per game, led the NFL this season.
What’s been impressive is not only has the Cowboys’ offense thrived with Prescott, they’ve also had some success without him in the lineup like when Cooper Rush roasted the Vikes for 325 yards in Week 8. If Moore really can get the most of out a quarterback, then he should absolutely be a top candidate to be hired this offseason

Rollin’ with Buffalo’s Brian Daboll
This could get awkward. Brian Daboll is the offensive coordinator for the Buffalo Bills, where former Minnesota Vikings great and Minneapolis Miracle hero Stefon Diggs has spent the past two seasons. However, Daboll has been the play-caller behind the surging superstar Josh Allen. Their biggest fault in Buffalo is their inability to execute explosive plays when running the ball. Hello, Dalvin Cook and Alexander Mattison.

While Daboll may feel like he has some unfinished business with the Bills after reaching the AFC Conference Championship last season, the idea of an offense featuring Cousins, Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen, K.J. Osborn, and Cook for the next few years has to be intriguing.
Daboll has eight years of experience as an offensive coordinator in the NFL. This is the first time he’s had an elite QB, with Allen. For the past two seasons, the Bills have been in the top ten of offensive yards and points scored. Last season, they were No. 2 in the NFL in both categories.
If fans want an experienced offensive mind, with plenty of people in his corner, including Alabama‘s Nick Saban and New England’s Bill Belichick, why not roll with Buffalo’s Brian Daboll? Somehow he’s been able to keep Diggs happy, which evidently couldn’t happen in Minnesota. It could be worth a shot as Jefferson’s glow continues to grow brighter and brighter in the North Star State.

Minnesota Vikings re-hire Eric Bieniemy, this time as head coach

Current Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy entered the NFL coaching ranks with the Minnesota Vikings back in 2006 under Brad Childress. Bieniemy’s title was running backs coach, since he’s a former RB himself, it was a great role. His NFL coaching debut was also Chester Taylor’s first year in Minnesota, who produced a career-best 1,216 rushing yards.
The following year, the Vikings selected future-Hall of Fame halfback Adrian Peterson, who was immediately effective, winning Rookie of the Year. Bieniemy coached the Vikings’ running backs for five seasons before leaving once Childress was let go in 2010. He then went to his alma mater at Colorado as their offensive coordinator for two seasons before landing another RB coach gig, this time with Andy Reid and the Kansas City Chiefs. In 2018, he was promoted to offensive coordinator after Matt Nagy left for Chicago.
During his time with the Chiefs, Bieniemy achieved what the Vikings’ franchise never has. The illustrious Super Bowl ring. Of course, Patrick Mahomes is the ringleader there, but Bieniemy has consistently drawn praise throughout the league. Notably, he is not their play-caller, those duties lie with Reid, but Bieniemy has called plays at times for the Chiefs.
With the success the Chiefs have had since drafting Mahomes, Bieniemy has been on the head coach hiring shortlist, receiving several interviews, but has never been able to land a head coaching gig. Maybe Bieniemy’s waiting for the ideal landing spot, a place where he feels confident about his chances to win.
It’s easy to say he’s not the engine making the Chiefs a dominant offensive force or to knock him for a lack of play-calling experience, but many coaches don’t call their own plays, such as Tampa Bay’s Bruce Arians. If Bieniemy can hire experienced play-callers, he should be considered a strong candidate for any open head-coaching spot, including the Minnesota Vikings.

Vikings turn to Minnesota native, hire Todd Downing from Tennessee Titans

You can call this the Kevin Stefanski hire, as Todd Downing draws a lot of similarities to the 2020 Coach of the Year for the Cleveland Browns.
Born in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, you know Downing wants to go back home and coach for the team he likely grew up rooting for. He also attended the University of Minnesota, before getting into coaching as an intern for the Vikings in 2003, when he was 23.
Downing has been involved with coaching in some form since he was just 19, back in 1999. He has a total of 21 years of coaching experience, with all but two of the seasons coming in the NFL.
Spending the past three years working up the ranks with the Tennessee Titans, Downing is now their offensive coordinator. Some may say, what the heck? One season as an offensive coordinator and you want him to take over for Zimmer? Get real.
In reality, he’s no different from Stefanski in that sense. Stefanski only spent one season as an offensive coordinator before getting hired as the Browns’ head coach.
During his NFL coaching career, Downing has helped Pro Bowl quarterbacks put up strong passing performances. He’s coached Matthew Stafford, Derek Carr, and now Ryan Tannehill, to name a few. He also knows how to operate a run-heavy gameplan, dialing up plays for Derrick Henry to smash through defenses this season prior to his injury.
With Todd Downing at the helm, the Minnesota Vikings could be uncovering the next young, offensive-minded coaching gem that gets them back into contention. Although he’d end up replacing the man who once hired him to be an offensive assistant on his staff in 2018, Downing may just be who Minnesota’s been searching for.