More Zimmer

I didn't really need any more convincing that the Minnesota Vikings made the right choice when they hired Mike Zimmer to be their new head coach. I was sold on Zimmer as a football coach a long time ago. Everything I see or hear about the man just re-enforces that opinion. The week of Senior Bowl practices has long been a football coaching convention. Most are there to scout the college football players. It's also something of a football coaches job fair for those looking to hire and those looking to be hired. Basically, there are a lot of football coaches and scouts in Mobile, Alabama this week. Apparently there was a line of coaches and scouts congratulating Mike Zimmer on his first head coaching gig.

Zimmer's reputation in the coaching community is great. Much of the respect shown is due to things like this:

To Bengals Fans,

For the past six years I have made Cincinnati my home. I have come to love the area, the people and the city. It truly is a fantastic place with unbelievably caring people.
I was very fortunate to work with so many outstanding people at Paul Brown Stadium. Coaches, especially Marvin, and the defensive staff--Jay, David, Paul, and Mark--to ownership--Mike, Katie, Troy, and Paul--and everyone behind the scenes that does such an outstanding job to make the Bengals a winner. In the time I was there we have climbed to the top of the AFC North division. We have become one of the better defensive teams in the NFL and we hopefully have become a team that the fans are proud to watch. The fans have been unbelievable to me. They are passionate and respectful. You have made my time in Cincinnati very special. THANK YOU. I will never forget the respect that you gave myself and my family.
To the players, past and present, it was truly an honor to coach you. I tried to give you my very best each day. You should be proud of what the franchise has become. You have my ultimate respect and my goal was to make each one of you better than when you walked in. I hope I did. You are family to me. We proved a lot of people wrong, didn't we? I loved watching you play on Sundays, and we always fought through the tough times. I am so proud to have been your coach. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, you will always be part of my life. All my best and thanks for everything.
Zim

Usually, a coach getting his first shot a leading team has other things on his mind than sending an open letter to the city that he's leaving. Seeing all the love shown to Mike Zimmer in the last week has been really something to behold. Bengals fans are saddened to lose their fantastic defensive coordinator yet they are happy that Zimmer is finally getting his shot. It sounds like some might even become distant Vikings fans. I have never seen this sort of emotion over an assistant football coach finally getting a head coaching shot. The Minnesota Vikings are truly lucky. I thank every team that has recently hired a head football coach other than Mike Zimmer.