The Vikings confirmed Wednesday night that former Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer will be the new coach of the Purple.
While Zimmer arrives for a fresh start in his first chance as a head coach, Vikings linebackers coach Mike Singletary will be moving on when his contract is up next month.
He has served as linebackers coach the past three seasons, and told the Pioneer Press tonight that his departure has nothing to do with Zimmer’s hiring, saying he decided last year he would leave the team.
From the St. Paul paper’s article:
“I knew this would be my last year as linebackers coach. I felt I had grown as much as I could here.”
Singletary’s desire to be a head coach has been much publicized since he was fired by the San Francisco 49ers after two-plus years as the head man of the NFC West side.
Singletary reiterated Wednesday his want to be a coach in a higher position soon, telling the Pioneer Press, “I want to be a head coach again, or hopefully a coordinator.”
The 49ers were 14-18 in Singletary’s two full seasons as head coach.
Singletary was a 10-time Pro Bowler with Chicago in his playing days.
