3 reasons why free agency secured Mike Zimmer’s future in Minnesota
By Nik Edlund
Zimmer’s reputation is still a draw for free agents
Mike Zimmer has been a coach in the NFL for a long time. He spent time with the Dallas Cowboys, Cincinnati Bengals, and the Atlanta Falcons before coming to the Vikings in 2014. In that time he’s been known for his great defensive mind and his ability to develop cornerbacks, earning the nickname “The Cornerback Whisperer”.
Apparently, that reputation is still intact even after the horrible performance of Zimmer’s defense in 2020. Minnesota’s two big free-agent signings this year, Dalvin Tomlinson and Patrick Peterson, both had great things to say about the team’s head coach in their introductory press conferences. Tomlinson stated over and over how excited he was to be working with the coaching staff, but Peterson got even more direct.
Peterson stated that he wanted to work with Zimmer and he recognizes the work the veteran coach has done with cornerbacks over the years. He also mentioned how he has taken many players to the next level and believes playing with and in Zimmer’s scheme can make him an even better player. That is huge praise coming from a future Hall of Famer.
The fact that proven veterans want to come and play for Zimmer is an extremely valuable asset for the team in free agency. Losing that draw would be a huge hit to the chances of the team bringing in quality veterans in the future.