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Vikings to hire Mike Zimmer as coach
Updated: January 15, 2014, 11:51 AM ET
By Chris Mortensen and Adam Schefter | ESPN
Zimmer, who spent the past five seasons as the Cincinnati Bengals' defensive coordinator, and the Vikings had been in negotiations in an effort to complete a deal Wednesday, according to league sources.
Mike Zimmer's defensive credentials are well known, but now he faces the task of fixing Minnesota's lagging offense, Ben Goessling writes. Analysis
Zimmer remained overnight after his second interview Tuesday was finished, with Vikings owner Zygi Wilf more centrally involved in the session, sources told ESPN.
Wilf made calls to selective references on Zimmer and came away satisfied to give a green light on hiring him to succeed Leslie Frazier as Minnesota's coach.
Parameters of a contract were in place, and negotiations between the Vikings and Zimmer's agent, Marvin Demoff, gained momentum toward completion, league sources told ESPN.
After surrendering the second-most yards and the most points in the NFL this season, the Vikings are turning to a head coach they believe can help fix the problems.
Zimmer will become the ninth coach in franchise history, 16 days after Frazier was fired on the heels of a 5-10-1 season. He goes to Minnesota after directing a Bengals defense that finished in the top 10 in yards and points allowed in four of the past five seasons.
Zimmer, 57, is considering hiring Cleveland Browns offensive coordinator Norv Turner as his offensive coordinator, a league source told ESPN. Zimmer also is considering Kyle Shanahan and Mike Mularkey as candidates, according to league sources.
Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph took to Twitter on Wednesday to express his excitement over the pending hiring of Zimmer.
Updated: January 15, 2014, 11:51 AM ET
By Chris Mortensen and Adam Schefter | ESPN
Zimmer, who spent the past five seasons as the Cincinnati Bengals' defensive coordinator, and the Vikings had been in negotiations in an effort to complete a deal Wednesday, according to league sources.
Mike Zimmer's defensive credentials are well known, but now he faces the task of fixing Minnesota's lagging offense, Ben Goessling writes. Analysis
Zimmer remained overnight after his second interview Tuesday was finished, with Vikings owner Zygi Wilf more centrally involved in the session, sources told ESPN.
Wilf made calls to selective references on Zimmer and came away satisfied to give a green light on hiring him to succeed Leslie Frazier as Minnesota's coach.
Parameters of a contract were in place, and negotiations between the Vikings and Zimmer's agent, Marvin Demoff, gained momentum toward completion, league sources told ESPN.
After surrendering the second-most yards and the most points in the NFL this season, the Vikings are turning to a head coach they believe can help fix the problems.
Zimmer will become the ninth coach in franchise history, 16 days after Frazier was fired on the heels of a 5-10-1 season. He goes to Minnesota after directing a Bengals defense that finished in the top 10 in yards and points allowed in four of the past five seasons.
Zimmer, 57, is considering hiring Cleveland Browns offensive coordinator Norv Turner as his offensive coordinator, a league source told ESPN. Zimmer also is considering Kyle Shanahan and Mike Mularkey as candidates, according to league sources.
Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph took to Twitter on Wednesday to express his excitement over the pending hiring of Zimmer.
