Nope. Mike Zimmer Is Not a “Mediocre” Head Coach.
Dustin Baker
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Mike Zimmer and his Minnesota Vikings are oft-labeled as “mired in mediocrity” or other colorful phrasing to the same effect. Some perceive the current Vikings as “stale,” which is a fair opinion if sufficient evidence is available to substantiate.
Otherwise, Zimmer truthers are conveniently adjusting the definition of mediocrity — or ignoring it altogether.
Merriam-Webster defines mediocrity like this:
So, the working theory, by implication, is that Zimmer’s coaching is of moderate or low quality. That would probably insinuate that his team wins about 50% of all games or slighly south of that.
Well, that’s how the Vikings did things before Zimmer arrived in Minneapolis. Unless wins and losses are not a just barometer to judge a head coach — which would be entirely bizarre and nonsensical — operations have markedly improved from the moment Zimmer took over the franchise.
In the seven total years before Zimmer was named Minnesota’s head coach, from 2007 to 2013, the league’s standings looked like this —
2007-2013 Cumulative Win Percentage:
- 1. New England Patriots (.786)
- 2. Green Bay Packers (.665)
- 3. Indianapolis Colts (.652)
- …
- 20. New York Jets (.491)
- 21. Minnesota Vikings (.487)
- 22. Carolina Panthers (.482)
And since Zimmer’s addition to the organization:
2014-2020 Cumulative Win Percentage:
- 1. New England Patriots (.723)
- 2. Kansas City Chiefs (.714)
- t3. Pittsburgh Steelers (.665)
- t3. Seattle Seahawks (.665)
- 5. Green Bay Packers (.638()
- 6. New Orleans Saints (.625)
- 7. Baltimore Ravens (.598)
- 8. Minnesota Vikings (.576)
- t9. Buffalo Bills (.554)
- t9. Dallas Cowboys (.554)
On Zimmer’s watch, the Vikings transformed from a Bottom-13 franchise in the seven years prior — to a Top 8 in the seven years with Zimmer. This is not negotiable. It is a fact-based assertion. The narrative cannot be twisted.
It is fine and dandy to dislike Zimmer for his personality, politics, etc., but ho-hum football should not be associated with his name. Do active NFL coaches exist that are better than Zimmer? Yes, about seven of them, per the win percentage numbers. Do active NFL coaches exist that are worse than Zimmer? Yes, about 24 of them, per the win percentage numbers.
The knock on Zimmer is that the 64-year-old does not conduct back-to-back good seasons in Minnesota. This an acceptable criticism. But much like the Pittsburgh Steelers or the New Orleans Saints, when Zimmer patches together a “bad” season, the year-end result is 7-9, 8-8, or 8-7-1. These campaigns are indeed mediocre. Yet, Zimmer cannot solely be arbitrated by seasons that a critic dislikes. This disregards the entirety of Zimmer’s resume. It’s the “cherry-picking” of critiques.
From 2014 to 2020, the Viking rank sixth in points allowed, 15th in points scored, and sixth in turnover differential. Mathematically, this would be considered “good” or “decent” as a whole based by common-sense standards.
About the only metric in which Zimmer struggles is special teams. His teams routinely flounder with field goals and extra-point kicking. So, in this regard, his coaching acumen has been closer to poor than mediocre.
Ultimately, a coach is adjudicated on wins and losses — nothing else. And no other football player should solely be assigned wins and losses as an accountable stat because there are 53 men on a football team. Not quarterbacks, running backs, cornerbacks, nor punters.
Zimmer wins 58% of games, eighth-best leaguewide during his tenure. Proclaiming his coaching career as one of mediocrity is foolish.