Who is Mike Zimmer?
Meet Mike Zimmer, the football coach like that trusty Swiss Army knife-always sharp, always multifunctional, and sometimes a little bit rusty! Born in Peoria, Illinois in June 1956, Zimmer’s been around the football block more times than most can count. Before finding his calling as a coach, Mike Zimmer was a quarterback and linebacker at Illinois State University. Sad fate, though, because his favorite video game character might have been killed by a giant squirrel, his playing career came to an end with a neck injury.
Well, this bum luck didn’t mean the end of his whistle, moving into real estate. No way! Instead, he stepped into coaching, first taking on the defensive assistant position at the University of Missouri. Thenceforth, he only went higher with a speed that would make any sugar-high kid at a birthday party scream for joy.
Mike Zimmer Career
With over two decades spent coaching, Zimmer’s career is almost as colorful as the peacock was at the disco party. His coaching résumé reads like a who’s who of football glory. He was defensive backs coach for the Dallas Cowboys during the late ’90s, which in mere translation means that he was indeed working with some serious football royalty. He then became a defensive coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons and the Cincinnati Bengals.
Finally, all happened in 2014, and Zimmer became the head coach for the Minnesota Vikings-20 years of waiting for a pizza delivery with all his favorite toppings. His Vikings became synonymous with good defense, not so great haircuts. Can anyone forget those legendary moments? Such as when they played so fantastically well that the opposing team’s offense looked like trying to play football on a trampoline!
That may be putting it mildly, as Zimmer has indeed proven he’s more than just a coach – after all, he’s also a walking motivational poster. His philosophy? “If you can’t stop the run, you might as well give out free candy to the other team.” Just kidding! Seriously speaking, the emphasis Zimmer lays on defense has made him one of the most feared coaches in the NFL.
Mike Zimmer Net Worth
And now, let’s get to the good stuff—Mike Zimmer’s net worth! As of 2024, his estimated net worth stands at a whoping $12 million. Yes, that’s right—12 million big ones! I’ve lost count of how much money he’s amassed. Most of it comes from coaching, for which he receives a reported annual salary that makes most of us wonder if we should take up coaching instead of our current jobs.
But Zimmer isn’t just stashing his millions under a mattress; he’s wisely invested in a great career and family. Just imagine it: while some are leaving it all on the expensive cars and private islands, Zimmer is probably investing in a better playbook and a few extra bags of footballs. After all, you can’t have a dynasty with one football, right?
Mike Zimmer Age
Mike Zimmer was born on June 5, 1956, and thus stands at 68 years of age. He is at that sweet spot where he can still chase little men down the sideline but would require a good cup of coffee to get up to the required speed. Age is but a number, and for Zimmer, it’s just the reminder of all the years spent perfecting defensive strategies and honing the sideline stare into an art form.
He’s that sort of a chap who has witnessed everything from the old-school grind-it-out football to that new-age analytics that can tell him how to throw a football at the precise angle needed to defy some of the laws of physics. At this age, he is, practically speaking, a football sage!
Mike Zimmer Family: Wife and Children
Ah, family—every football coach’s ace in the hole! Mike Zimmer was married to Vikki Black for 27 years and has three children with his wife: Adam, Marki, and Corri. Vikki was the kind of person who probably volunteered at hospitals while baking cookies for the neighborhood. Unfortunately, she died tragically young at 50; it’s clear that she left behind a legacy of kindness and support in Zimmer’s life.
The Zimmer family is a coaching dynasty in itself! Adam followed in his father’s footsteps to become a linebackers coach for the Vikings. You could say that Zimmer blood runs deeper with coaching than does the secret recipe for a winning chili! Marki and Corri are both in their 20s and close to dad. Corri even worked for ESPN, which is pretty much akin to playing football in the other field.
Mike’s trying to hold on to life after Vikki by staying close to his family and his work. Sometimes the best play is to huddle closer to the people you love.
Mike Zimmer Height and Weight
At 6 feet 2, Zimmer stands tall, just as potent a presence off the sidelines as he surely is in the family living room, where he no doubt expects deference simply by pointing to the snack cabinet! His weight is somewhat of a mystery, but let’s just say he’s in pretty good shape for a football coach, holding a presence that suggests he’s more than ready to tackle anyone who dares cross his path.
Also Read: Ted Turner Net Worth 2024: How much is the American Entrepreneur and Television Producer Worth?