Vikings coddle Mike Zimmer by exercising his 2020 option

The Minnesota Vikings have decided to exercise the 2020 contract option for head coach Mike Zimmer. But was this the right choice?

Since beginning his head coaching career with the Minnesota Vikings in 2014, Mike Zimmer has preached toughness and discipline to his players and coaching staff with a no nonsense attitude.

Whenever said players and coaches have failed to exhibit these philosophies, Zimmer has been sure to address it publicly.

Soft offensive line play? Zimmer’s not having it. Questionable play calling by the offensive coordinator? Zimmer will let the whole world know about it.

And yet, when it comes to the head coach’s own short comings, whether that be his mediocre record in nationally televised games, lack of adequately adjusting to the strategies of opposing teams, operating as a glorified defensive coordinator in delegating all offensive responsibilities to offensive coordinators, or the team’s one playoff victory in five years after his vaunted defense collapsed in the second half, the Vikings feel the need to protect Zimmer from the public pressure.

On Wednesday, Minnesota announced that Zimmer’s contract option for the 2020 season was picked up by the team. The move keeps his deal active for the next two seasons as opposed to letting him coach out the final year of his previous contract for 2019.

Either the Vikings were impelled to coddle their head coach from lame duck questioning from the media this week or perhaps they felt that Zimmer somehow actually earned a one-year extension. Who knows?

The great mystery in all of this is trying to understand what it is that Zimmer has accomplished in his half decade as Minnesota’s leader. Seriously, what has he accomplished?

Does he warrant endless praise because he’s better than what the Vikings had in Leslie Frazier, Brad Childress, and Mike Tice? Is that the gold standard for this organization?

Why is Zimmer, a head coach, allowed to take zero responsibility for his consistently underwhelming offense? How is it that the critiquing of his coaching stops at the defensive side of the ball?

After being saved by a miracle play on offense against the New Orleans Saints in the 2017 divisional round of the playoffs before ultimately disappearing against the eventual Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship, Minnesota headed into the 2018 season with tremendous expectations.

Fast forward to Week 17 against Chicago Bears this past season with a win-and-your’re-in playoff scenario and yet again, Zimmer’s team fell apart without an ounce of competitiveness. 2018 was a disastrous season for the Vikings, but it really wasn’t all that bad to Zimmer because hey look at our defense!

"“There are a lot of positive things. We finished top five in defense again. We finished number one in red zone defense. Finished number one in third down defense again.”"

The fact is that Zimmer needs to step up. He has significantly underachieved as a head coach when compared to the expectations set for this team.

He needs to prove that he is the right man to lead the Vikings. The only consistent quality during his tenure in Minnesota has been the defense, which is something he could’ve done as a defensive coordinator.

But if the Vikings are handing out charity extensions, then why stop with Zimmer? Minnesota should just gift wrap one for general manager Rick Spielman too.

If the Vikings are setting the standards at being better than individuals who never received another head coaching job in the NFL after their time in Minnesota, then fire up the ole Ring of Honor ceremony for Mike Zimmer in 2019 when they host the Eagles on Thanksgiving.

If Minnesota’s standard is actually giving the team their best chance to win, then Zimmer needs to drastically change his philosophy or he just simply isn’t the right fit for the franchise.