5 best decisions ever made by Vikings GM Rick Spielman
By Dustin Baker
Bringing Zimmer to Minnesota
This is two-fold; the hire of Mike Zimmer and the recent contract extension.
The hiring of Zimmer took place at a time in the Vikings history that was one of doldrums. Minnesota had freshly failed a new quarterback experiment, Christian Ponder, and they were winding down the prime years of their franchise cornerstone in running back Adrian Peterson.
During Leslie Frazier’s stint as skipper before Zimmer arrived, the Vikings put forth a product that was defensively putrid. From 2011 to 2013, Minnesota ranked second-to-last in the NFL in points allowed.
Since the Zimmer hire, the Vikings have been transformed into the second-best team in the business in regard to points allowed. Just pause and think about that.
And when you’re finished–it’s no wonder the team finally afforded Zimmer a contract extension this year. Under Zimmer, Minnesota has won two NFC North titles and earned a spot in one NFC Championship. Contrary to popular belief, those feats are not easy to accomplish.
Zimmer belongs on the Vikings and Rick Spielman brought that to fruition–for, what now could be, 10 seasons altogether.