Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer's contract has been extended through the 2020 season, General Manager Rick Spielman announced Wednesday during a session in Indianapolis with Twin Cities media members.
Spielman said the Vikings exercised an option on Zimmer's deal that was initially set to expire after 2019.
"We did exercise Coach Zimmer's option, so he will be through 2020," Spielman said. "I don't think, from ownership through our entire organization, that we don't believe in Coach Zimmer. He is the right head coach to lead us going forward."
Zimmer, 62, is 47-32-1 in five regular seasons, including a loss against Dallas that he missed because of emergency eye surgery in 2016. He has led the Vikings to two NFC North titles (2015 and 2017 seasons) and a dramatic playoff victory over the Saints to advance to the NFC Championship Game in January 2018.
Zimmer needs five more victories to tie Ring of Honor Head Coach Jerry Burns for third in franchise history.
Spielman complimented Zimmer's role in helping put together a new staff of offensive assistants that will be led by Offensive Coordinator Kevin Stefanski in 2019.
The Vikings defense has thrived in Zimmer's system, ranking 11th or better in points allowed in each of Zimmer's five seasons, including fifth in 2015, sixth in 2016 and first in 2017.
