Firing Mike Zimmer Will Be Costly

Mike Zimmer’s seat has never been hotter than it is entering week 18 of the 2021-22 season. The Minnesota Vikings head coach is acting as if he’s on his way out the door too, ranting in press conferences, refusing to acknowledge younger talent and look forward to the 2022 NFL Draft, which will be held less than 4 months from now.

But while most believe the Zimmer era will end after Sunday’s season finale vs the Bears, there’s a big financial hurdle that has been overlooked. There are still two full seasons remaining on Mike Zimmer’s contract, two seasons that will reportedly pay him a handsome $8 million per season, almost all of which is guaranteed.

According to Darren “Doogie” Wolfson (KSTP, SKOR North) during one of his bi-weekly appearances on Mackey & Judd, the Minnesota Vikings would owe upward of $15 million to Mike Zimmer should they decide to cut ties with him this offseason.

According to @DWolfsonKSTP, Mike Zimmer's remaining contract (2YR/$16M) is nearly all guaranteed. He ballparks $15 million to fire him. #Vikings pic.twitter.com/kbNG2K3b7C

— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) January 6, 2022

The Wilfs are known as an ownership group willing to do whatever it takes to win, something Doogie points out many times during this show, but that’s a huge sum of money to pay a coach that isn’t coaching for you. And if fired, he will have to be replaced. So not only would they be paying Zim to not coach, they’d also have to pay someone who will.

Are the Minnesota Vikings willing to pay for two head coaches during both of the next couple of seasons? I guess we’re about to find out.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan