EDEN PRAIRIE, MN - MAY 3: Helmets belonging to the Minnesota Vikings are seen during a rookie minicamp on May 3, 2012 at Winter Park in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)The Minnesota Vikings were eliminated from the playoff race yesterday with their loss to the Chicago Bears. The disappointing season has led some to speculate that head coach Mike Zimmer’s job could be on the line. On Monday, we got an indication as to whether he’ll be back next year.
According to NFL insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero, the Vikings owners are retaining Zimmer and general manager Rick Spielman.
The Vikings finished the 2018 season at 8-7-1 in Zimmer’s fifth year as head coach.
#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
After reaching the NFC Championship Game last year and signing quarterback Kirk Cousins to a record-setting free agent contract, the Minnesota Vikings were expected to make some noise in the playoffs this season.
But the Vikings started the season at 1-2-1 and struggled to string wins together throughout the year.
The Vikings had won two straight games going into Week 17 and needed to beat the Chicago Bears to clinch the playoffs.
But a 24-10 loss that included a sideline confrontation between Kirk Cousins and wide receiver Adam Thielen put an end to their playoff hopes.
The Vikings are 47-32-1 under Mike Zimmer and went 13-3 with the league’s best defense in 2017. They lost in the NFC Championship Game to the eventual Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles.
