5 Landing Spots for Mike Zimmer if He Returns to the NFL in 2024
This week, Mike Zimmer did a rare interview with Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.
In the interview, Zimmer expressed a desire to get back into the NFL as a coach during the 2024 season. If he does want to get a coaching gig, though, where could he potentially go? Here are 5 landing spots for Zimmer if he makes that return to the NFL.
Green Bay Packers
Things with Zimmer and the Minnesota Vikings ended on a sour note. The former Vikings head coach could stick it to his old team by taking on a defensive coordinator role with the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota’s most hated rival.
Joe Barry has been the DC in Green Bay for the past three years, and they’ve progressively moved down the league rankings in terms of points allowed and yards allowed in every season. If Zimmer is able to come in and revamp that unit, the Packers could be right back in the mix in the NFC North.
Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys are rolling once again in the regular season, but what happens if they fall flat on their faces in the playoffs for another year? Dallas could look to move on from Mike McCarthy at head coach.
Considering Zimmer got his NFL coaching career started in Dallas back in 1994, this could be an intriguing job for the former Vikings head coach to pursue. Zimmer spent 13 years with the Cowboys in various roles and won a Super Bowl with the team in 1995. Could he be the coach to take them back to the promised land?
Washington Commanders
If the Commanders move on from Ron Rivera during the offseason, they will likely give the head coaching role to an offensive minded coach (perhaps current OC Eric Bieniemy). If that happens, they still need a solid coach to take on a rebuilding defensive unit.
Zimmer falls right into that category. When he joined the Vikings, they had just finished a 2013 season where they ranked dead-last in points allowed. Zimmer came in, and two years later, the Vikings were the fifth-best scoring defense during 2015 and made the playoffs. The Commanders have promising pieces, but they just need the right coaching staff to lead them.
Carolina Panthers
It seems inevitable that Ejiro Evero will once again be in the discussion for a head coaching gig this offseason. If he does finally land one, that opens up the defensive coordinator gig in Carolina.
Like Washington, the Panthers are a rebuilding squad, but they have promising pieces on the defensive side of the ball that could make this an intriguing job. Jaycee Horn is a lockdown cornerback when healthy, and they have a promising group of young pass-rushers. It would also reunite him with Adam Thielen.
Indianapolis Colts
The Colts are on the verge of being a playoff team this season even without QB Anthony Richardson in the lineup. They also have one of the worst defenses in the league, which could lead them to move on from DC Gus Bradley.
If that happens, Zimmer could be a target to come in and lead this unit, which still features DeForest Buckner in the middle of the defensive line as well as Kwity Paye and Samson Ebukam coming off the edge. This team can go from good to great if they get their defensive struggles together.
For Struggling Vikings and Packers, .471 is the New .500
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.