The Viking Age
FanSided

Mike Zimmer on Teddy Bridgewater: ‘This Is His Team Now’

By Adam Carlson

facebooktwitterreddit

Minnesota Vikings rookie quarterback Teddy Bridgewater has only played in 10 NFL games, but it looks like head coach Mike Zimmer is fully bought in to him.

Dec 7, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) looks on during the fourth quarter against the New York Jets at TCF Bank Stadium. The Vikings defeated the Jets 30-24 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

After the Vikings overtime win over the New York, excitement surrounding Teddy Bridgewater has seemed to hit an all time high.  He has a 5-4 record as Minnesota’s starting quarterback and has three 4th quarter comebacks as well as three game winning drives.  In his last two games, Bridgewater has shown the type of efficiency that fans were hoping to see from him as soon as he was thrust into the starting role following a Matt Cassel season ending injury.

In a recent article from TwinCities.com’s Pioneer Press, Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer was quoted with one of the nicest things we’ve heard come out of his mouth about any player on his roster.

"“When Teddy decides to be the leader of the football team, because right now he’s still feeling his way a little bit and his personality is just do what you do and do what you have to do, this franchise is Teddy’s,” Zimmer said. “I know that was a good headline for you. … He needs to take it over. This is his team now.”"

Meanwhile, Bridgewater’s take on his situation with the team was a little different.

"“I would love to get to that stage,” Bridgewater said. “Like I said, I don’t want to just be the guy for just a couple games or a year. I want to continue to be the guy and have a long career. I just have to get better.”"

Vikings fans would love to have stability at the quarterback position.  Minnesota hasn’t had a quarterback start for 6 or more years in a row since Fran Tarkenton left the team back in 1978.  Since then, we’ve seen high draft picks fail to stick around long and high profile free agents make runs at the end of their careers.  But there’s hope that Teddy Bridgewater can break that trend for Minnesota.

Only time will tell if Bridgewater can be the long term answer in Minnesota, but at least things are looking optimistic for his chances according to his play this rookie year.

More from The Viking Age

Home/Minnesota Vikings News