Mike Zimmer shows up to training camp, but not in Minnesota

Months after he was fired by the Minnesota Vikings, the team’s former head coach, Mike Zimmer, showed up to Cincinnati Bengals training camp on Sunday.

It’s been more than seven months since the Minnesota Vikings decided to fire Mike Zimmer as the team’s head coach. Since then, no one has heard a peep from the former Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator.

That changed on Sunday when Zimmer made his first public appearance since he was let go by the Vikings and he showed up to Bengals training camp.

https://twitter.com/Bengals/status/1556374353251651586?s=20&t=su7tyByDuqn0FDBMLyly6A

Is former Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer returning to the Cincinnati Bengals?

Some might be wondering why Zimmer was in Cincinnati on Sunday to watch a Bengals training camp practice. Could he be returning to the team that employed him for six seasons before he was hired by Minnesota in 2014?

At this moment, it doesn’t seem like Zimmer will be coaching anywhere in the NFL during the upcoming season. This could change in 2023, but for now, the former Vikings head coach will likely try to enjoy some actual time off from coaching for the first time in a very long time.

As for the reason why he was in Cincinnati on Sunday, Zimmer was likely there to visit with his son, Adam, who was hired by the Bengals this year as an offensive advisor.

The former Minnesota head coach hasn’t said anything publicly about his firing since he was let go last January. He’s kept to himself during the last few months, unlike former Vikings general manager Rick Spielman, who was also fired earlier this year.

Spielman has made multiple radio, television, and podcast appearances since his departure from Minnesota, and recently, he created a Twitter account (that isn’t a burner).

Zimmer and Spielman have certainly taken two completely different paths since they were fired by the Vikings. But we shouldn’t be surprised, as their differences in philosophies is something that played a major role in both of them being let go by Minnesota earlier this year.