Despite a disappointing 2018 season ending in a home loss to the Chicago Bears on Sunday, the Vikings will reportedly stick with head coach Mike Zimmer.
“There won’t be changes here,” a source told NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, who says owners Zygi and Mark Wilf still put their trust in Zimmer and general manager Rick Spielman.
#Vikings owners Zygi and Mark Wilf sat in on the final team meeting today, as they do every season, and both reiterated their belief in coach Mike Zimmer and GM Rick Spielman, sources tell me and @RapSheet. "There won't be changes here," one source said.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) December 31, 2018
Earlier in the day Monday, Pelissero reported that Zimmer texted him the following: “I’m not retiring or resigning. Period.”
The text is apparently in response to a report on Sunday from Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, who said Zimmer possibly resigning is “something to keep an eye on.”
“I don’t think there’s anybody in this locker room or upstairs that’s questioning his ability to help us win games,” Pro Bowl wide receiver Adam Thielen told KARE 11’s Ryan Shaver on Monday.
“We have to do things to take care of him as players and we didn’t do that well enough this year.”
The Vikings still have a young, talented roster, but it’s evident that the offensive line will need to major reconstruction before the start of the 2019 season.
Zimmer is under contract with the Vikings through next season.
Meanwhile, interim offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski is getting interest from teams around the league, with Ian Rapoport saying the Browns have requested to interview him for their head coaching job.
Before #Vikings try to make interim OC Kevin Stefanski their full-time OC some competition: The #Browns have requested Stefanski for an HC interview. … Also, not only is #Colts DC Matt Eberflus getting looks, but so is OC Nick Sirianni. He’s on short lists, too, including CLE
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 31, 2018
Stefanski has been with the Vikings for 13 years and was promoted to interim offensive coordinator after John DeFilippo was fired following Minnesota’s Week 14 loss to the Seahawks.
