Former Vikings QB Kyle Sloter Breaks Silence on “Rivalry” with Mike Zimmer via Social Media
In both 2018 and 2019, QB Kyle Sloter was a preseason hero for the Vikings, but he never was able to make a 53-man roster during his time in Minnesota.
This week, Sloter took to social media to open up about his past rivalry with then-head coach Mike Zimmer. ESPN posted a question on X (formerly known as Twitter), prompting fans to answer the question, “What is the biggest rivalry in sports?”
A Sloter fan account quote-posted the question, posting pictures of both Sloter and Zimmer, writing, “You just had to be there.” Sloter himself then responded to the fan account, confirming the rivalry by writing, “Trueeeee.”
Another fan then asked how bad it truly was in Minnesota, and Sloter responded with a GIF:
During his preseason runs with the Vikings, Sloter became a fan-favorite in Minnesota, and it was rather surprising to see that he never got a shot with the team during the regular season.
The QB earned the nickname “Mr. Preseason” because of his exhibition performances for Minnesota. In two years of preseason with the Vikings, Sloter put up 809 yards, eight touchdowns, and one single interception over the course of eight games. He also rushed for 45 yards and another touchdown.
In those preseason games, the Vikings went a total of 6-2, largely because of Sloter’s strong play. Regardless, he was cut at the end of camp each year in favor of Trevor Siemian (2018) and Sean Mannion (2019). He was stashed on Minnesota’s practice squad during 2018.
Regardless of his showcases on the preseason field, it should be noted that Sloter has never appeared in a regular season NFL game. He has had stints with the Arizona Cardinals, Chicago Bears, Las Vegas Raiders, and Jacksonville Jaguars since his time in Minnesota, but none of those teams saw him as a viable option at QB, either.
Sloter has also played at the USFL level. During the 2021 season, he earned first-team All-USFL honors for his performance with the New Orleans Breakers. He led the Breakers to the playoffs by passing for 1799 yards and nine touchdowns during the regular season. New Orleans would lose to the Birmingham Stallions in the semi-finals, 31-17.
In 2023, Sloter played in the XFL, making four starts for the Arlington Renegades. He passed for 499 yards, a touchdown, and 4 INTs over the course of the season. The QB remains unsigned by an NFL team heading into the 2023 season.
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.