Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer is one of the most-respected coaches across the league, and a guy who is known for being a defensive mastermind.
Since taking over in Minnesota in 2014, Zimmer's defense has ranked in the top 10 in points allowed per game in four of five seasons. The Vikings ranked first in points and yards allowed per game in 2017.
But where does Zimmer stand in regards to other league coaches?
Patrick Daugherty of Rotoworld recently released his **annual list of head-coach rankings** and had Zimmer slotted in the ninth spot. Zimmer was the highest-rated of any coach that is yet to lead a team to at least one Super Bowl.
Daugherty, who Zimmer ranked eighth at this time last year, noted that the Vikings were 7-1-1 against non-playoff teams but went 1-6 against teams that made the postseason. He wrote:
Part of Zimmer's diagnosis was that he strayed too far from his roots. Desperate and disgusted, he pink slipped pass-happy OC John DeFilippo on December 11. Following the firing were wins over the hapless Dolphins and Lions before a season-ending suffocation against the Bears. Even with those inconclusive results, Zimmer removed fill-in OC Kevin Stefanski's interim tag, making his 2019 intentions clear. More runs, fewer missed blocks, more big plays on defense.
He is doubling down on Zimmer Ball as the rest of the league loads up on "Next McVays." One of the NFL's most focused, disciplined coaches, Zimmer's track record suggests 2019 will not be another season of poor game plans and botched execution.
Zimmer is 47-32-1 (.594 win percentage) in five seasons in Minnesota, and the Vikings have the sixth-most regular-season wins during that span.
The 62-year-old Zimmer has won a pair of NFC North titles and is the longest-tenured head coach in the division.
Vikings General Manager Rick Spielman announced last week at the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine that Zimmer's contract has been **extended through the 2020 season**.
View some of the team photographers favorite the Through the Lens images from the 2018 season.
An image from October 7, 2018 regular season away game against the Philadelphia Eagles. The Vikings won 23-21.
An image from August 11, 2018 preseason away game against the Denver Broncos. The Vikings won 42-28.
An image from December 2, 2018 regular season away game against the New England Patriots. The Vikings loss 10-24.
An image from December 30, 2018 regular season home game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings loss 10-24.
An image from December 23, 2018 regular season away game against the Detroit Lions. The Vikings won 27-9.
An image from December 23, 2018 regular season away game against the Detroit Lions. The Vikings won 27-9.
An image from December 23, 2018 regular season away game against the Detroit Lions. The Vikings won 27-9.
An image from December 10, 2018 regular season away game against the Seattle Seahawks. The Vikings loss 7-21.
An image from December 10, 2018 regular season away game against the Seattle Seahawks. The Vikings loss 7-21.
An image from November 25, 2018 regular season home game against the Green Bay Packers. The Vikings won 24-17.
An image from November 4, 2018 regular season home game against the Detroit Lions. The Vikings won 24-9.
An image from November 25, 2018 regular season home game against the Green Bay Packers. The Vikings won 24-17.
An image from December 23, 2018 regular season away game against the Detroit Lions. The Vikings won 27-9.
An image from November 25, 2018 regular season home game against the Green Bay Packers. The Vikings won 24-17.
An image from December 16, 2018 regular season home game against the Miami Dolphins. The Vikings won 41-17.
An image from November 4, 2018 regular season home game against the Detroit Lions. The Vikings won 24-9.
An image from October 28, 2018 regular season home game against the New Orleans Saints. The Vikings loss 20-30.
An image from September 16, 2018 regular season away game against the Green Bay Packers. The Vikings tied 29-29.
An image from October 28, 2018 regular season home game against the New Orleans Saints. The Vikings loss 20-30.
An image from October 28, 2018 regular season home game against the New Orleans Saints. The Vikings loss 20-30.
An image from October 14, 2018 regular season home game against the Arizona Cardinals. The Vikings won 27-17.
An image from October 7, 2018 regular season away game against the Philadelphia Eagles. The Vikings won 23-21.
An image from October 14, 2018 regular season home game against the Arizona Cardinals. The Vikings won 27-17.
An image from November 4, 2018 regular season home game against the Detroit Lions. The Vikings won 24-9.
An image from October 28, 2018 regular season home game against the New Orleans Saints. The Vikings loss 20-30.
An image from November 4, 2018 regular season home game against the Detroit Lions. The Vikings won 24-9.
An image from October 21, 2018 regular season away game against the New York Jets. The Vikings won 37-17.
An image from October 14, 2018 regular season home game against the Arizona Cardinals. The Vikings won 27-17.
An image from October 28, 2018 regular season home game against the New Orleans Saints. The Vikings loss 20-30.
An image from October 7, 2018 regular season away game against the Philadelphia Eagles. The Vikings won 23-21.
An image from August 18, 2018 preseason home game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Vikings lost 10-14.
An image from October 7, 2018 regular season away game against the Philadelphia Eagles. The Vikings won 23-21.
An image from September 16, 2018 regular season away game against the Green Bay Packers. The Vikings tied 29-29.
An image from September 9, 2018 regular season home game against the San Francisco 49ers. The Vikings won 24-16.
An image from December 10, 2018 regular season away game against the Seattle Seahawks. The Vikings loss 7-21.
An image from September 27, 2018 regular season away game against the Los Angeles Rams. The Vikings lost 31-38.
An image from September 16, 2018 regular season away game against the Green Bay Packers. The Vikings tied 29-29.
An image from September 16, 2018 regular season away game against the Green Bay Packers. The Vikings tied 29-29.
An image from September 9, 2018 regular season home game against the San Francisco 49ers. The Vikings won 24-16.
An image from November 25, 2018 regular season home game against the Green Bay Packers. The Vikings won 24-17.
An image from August 18, 2018 preseason home game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Vikings lost 10-14.
An image from December 30, 2018 regular season home game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings loss 10-24.
An image from December 16, 2018 regular season home game against the Miami Dolphins. The Vikings won 41-17.
An image from September 27, 2018 regular season away game against the Los Angeles Rams. The Vikings lost 31-38.
An image from October 21, 2018 regular season away game against the New York Jets. The Vikings won 37-17.
An image from December 30, 2018 regular season home game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings loss 10-24.
An image from December 10, 2018 regular season away game against the Seattle Seahawks. The Vikings loss 7-21.
An image from October 21, 2018 regular season away game against the New York Jets. The Vikings won 37-17.
An image from November 4, 2018 regular season home game against the Detroit Lions. The Vikings won 24-9.
An image from December 16, 2018 regular season home game against the Miami Dolphins. The Vikings won 41-17.
An image from October 14, 2018 regular season home game against the Arizona Cardinals. The Vikings won 27-17.
An image from November 18, 2018 regular season away game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings loss 25-20.
An image from October 28, 2018 regular season home game against the New Orleans Saints. The Vikings loss 20-30.
An image from September 9, 2018 regular season home game against the San Francisco 49ers. The Vikings won 24-16.
An image from October 14, 2018 regular season home game against the Arizona Cardinals. The Vikings won 27-17.
An image from September 23, 2018 regular season home game against the Buffalo Bills. The Vikings lost 6-27.
An image from August 30, 2018 preseason away game against the Tennessee Titans. The Vikings won 13-3.
An image from December 16, 2018 regular season home game against the Miami Dolphins. The Vikings won 41-17.
An image from October 14, 2018 regular season home game against the Arizona Cardinals. The Vikings won 27-17.
An image from October 7, 2018 regular season away game against the Philadelphia Eagles. The Vikings won 23-21.
An image from August 24, 2018 preseason home game against the Seattle Seahawks. The Vikings won 21-20.
An image from September 27, 2018 regular season away game against the Los Angeles Rams. The Vikings lost 31-38.
An image from September 23, 2018 regular season home game against the Buffalo Bills. The Vikings lost 6-27.
An image from September 16, 2018 regular season away game against the Green Bay Packers. The Vikings tied 29-29.
An image from October 7, 2018 regular season away game against the Philadelphia Eagles. The Vikings won 23-21.
An image from December 23, 2018 regular season away game against the Detroit Lions. The Vikings won 27-9.
An image from September 23, 2018 regular season home game against the Buffalo Bills. The Vikings lost 6-27.
An image from November 18, 2018 regular season away game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings loss 25-20.
An image from November 18, 2018 regular season away game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings loss 25-20.
An image from October 7, 2018 regular season away game against the Philadelphia Eagles. The Vikings won 23-21.
An image from September 16, 2018 regular season away game against the Green Bay Packers. The Vikings tied 29-29.
An image from September 9, 2018 regular season home game against the San Francisco 49ers. The Vikings won 24-16.
An image from November 4, 2018 regular season home game against the Detroit Lions. The Vikings won 24-9.
An image from November 4, 2018 regular season home game against the Detroit Lions. The Vikings won 24-9.
A look at Vikings needs before free agency
While we're less than a week away from the start of free agency, it remains to be seen how active Spielman and the rest of Minnesota's front office will be beginning at 3 p.m. (CT) Wednesday.
But Chris Wesseling of NFL.com recently went through each NFC team and looked at **potential needs for each squad**.
When it came to the Vikings, Wesseling opined that Minnesota could be looking to add players on the offensive line, at linebacker and at the wide receiver spot.
Wesseling wrote:
On defense, four-time Pro Bowl selection Anthony Barr [could be] set to fly the coop. Coach Mike Zimmer [might] be in the market for a replacement alongside middle linebacker Eric Kendricks.
The Vikings have a handful of players, including Barr and Sheldon Richardson, who are scheduled to become free agents next week. They could also agree to a new contract with Minnesota before that time to keep them off the market.
