Mike Zimmer reportedly wants to coach next season

Shortly after the 2021 regular season came to a close, the Minnesota Vikings decided to part ways with general manager Rick Spielman and head coach Mike Zimmer.

Since that split, Zimmer has fallen off the radar a bit. Vikings linebacker Eric Kendricks did offer a critical take on his former head coach, while Zimmer’s girlfriend took public aim at Spielman. But that was about it.

And because of that, teams in search of a new head coach assumed Zimmer wanted to take some time off. However, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports that’s not the case at all and Zimmer would prefer to return to the sideline in 2022.

Former Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer wants to coach in the NFL in 2022, per source. Some teams hiring have assumed he would take time off but he appears ready to get back in the fold. Zimmer produced several top-five defenses and a 72-56-1 record as head coach.

— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) February 5, 2022

The 65-year-old Zimmer broke into the NFL as an assistant with the Dallas Cowboys in 1994. He remained with the team through the 2006 season, serving as their defensive coordinator over his final seven years in Arlington. He then spent one year (2007) as the Atlanta Falcons’ defensive coordinator before taking that same role with the Cincinnati Bengals from 2008 through 2013.

In 2014, Zimmer was hired as the Vikings’ head coach. He compiled a 72-56-1 record and earned three playoff appearances over an eight-year span. He also had five consecutive seasons finishing at .500 or above before finishing at 7-9 and 8-9 in each of the previous two seasons, respectively.

Image: Sep 19, 2021; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer in the first half against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Billy Hardiman-USA TODAY Sports