Michael Zimmer was born on June 5,1956 and is an American football coach for the Colorado Buffaloes.
23 Facts About Mike Zimmer
2.
Mike Zimmer previously served as the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League from 2014 to 2022.
3.
In high school, Mike Zimmer was a successful multi-sport athlete who earned all-conference honors in football, baseball, and wrestling at Lockport Township High School in Lockport, Illinois.
4.
Mike Zimmer enrolled at Illinois State University, majoring in physical education.
5.
Mike Zimmer played quarterback in 1974, but he redshirted the following year and moved to linebacker in 1976 after breaking his thumb.
6.
Mike Zimmer backed up quarterback Bob Lopez in 1974, who later went on to set many of Illinois State's passing records.
7.
Mike Zimmer joined the Dallas Cowboys in 1994 as an assistant coach of the nickel defense under Barry Switzer.
8.
Mike Zimmer was promoted to defensive backs coach in 1995 and served in that capacity before being promoted to defensive coordinator in 2000.
9.
When Bobby Petrino was hired to coach the Atlanta Falcons early in 2007, Mike Zimmer agreed to become the new defensive coordinator in Atlanta.
10.
Mike Zimmer coached in Atlanta for only one season after Petrino left the Falcons for the University of Arkansas after thirteen games.
11.
Mike Zimmer has been very outspoken against Petrino after Petrino's unexpected departure from Atlanta in 2007.
12.
Mike Zimmer was named the defensive coordinator for the Cincinnati Bengals on January 15,2008.
13.
On January 15,2014, Mike Zimmer earned his first head coaching position when the Minnesota Vikings hired him to replace Leslie Frazier.
14.
On July 28,2016, Mike Zimmer signed a contract extension with the Vikings.
15.
Mike Zimmer suffered a detached retina during the October 31,2016 Monday Night Football game against the Chicago Bears.
16.
Mike Zimmer underwent emergency eye surgery on November 30,2016 forcing him to miss the Vikings' Thursday Night Football game against the Dallas Cowboys.
17.
Special teams coach Mike Zimmer Priefer served as interim coach for the game.
18.
In 2017, Mike Zimmer led the Vikings to one of the greatest seasons in franchise history.
19.
On September 9,2018, Mike Zimmer became the fourth head coach in Minnesota Vikings history to get 40 wins.
20.
On October 24,2019 Mike Zimmer became just the third coach to surpass 52 franchise wins, surpassing Jerry Burns; trailing only Dennis Green and longtime coach Bud Grant.
21.
In late July 2020, Mike Zimmer signed a three-year contract extension.
22.
On January 10,2022, Mike Zimmer was fired as head coach of the Minnesota Vikings, ending his eight-year tenure with the team.
23.
Mike Zimmer is the son of former NFL player and coach, Bill Mike Zimmer, who died on August 12,2015 at age 84.