The Vikings reported to training camp Thursday with high expectations and big news involving the coach who has helped create those expectations.
On the campus of Minnesota State University in Mankato, general manager Rick Spielman announced that head coach Mike Zimmer, who last year led the Vikings to an 11-5 record the NFC North title in his second season in Minnesota, had signed a contract extension with the team.
"I feel very, very fortunate to be the coach of the Vikings," Zimmer said, adding, "It's good to get it done now and get a chance to move forward."
Spielman would not reveal terms of the deal but did say "there's no doubt coach Zimmer is going to be our football coach here for a long time."
Zimmer is 18-15, including a playoff loss to Seattle in January, entering his third season.
Spielman approached Zimmer, whose original contract from 2014 was through at least the 2017 season, about an extension a few weeks ago, Zimmer said. Spielman wanted to get the deal done before the start of training camp so the coach and the team could focus strictly on football.
Spielman described his working relationship with Zimmer, 60, as the best and most cohesive experience he has had with a head coach since becoming an executive in the NFL. And he cited Zimmer's passion, leadership and ability to prepare players both young and old as the coach's finest qualities.
"You can't predict injuries. You can't predict the ball bouncing here or there. But I know coach Zimmer is going to have this football team as prepared as any football team to head into this season," Spielman said. "And that all starts with what we have to get done at training camp."
Zimmer, who has been front and center at team events at new U.S. Bank Stadium the past couple of weeks, playfully said that he is happy to get out of a suit and get back to coaching. And after being passed over by other teams for head coaching positions over the years before the Vikings hired him two years ago, he is thankful he will continue to get to do that for the Vikings.
"All I know is that this is the right organization for me because they have the right people," Zimmer said. "I believe this team is the right fit for me."
