Even Mike Zimmer’s Former Players Couldn’t Believe What He Said in That Interview

The Minnesota Vikings are gearing up for their Week 1 matchup against the New York Giants . That hasn’t stopped noise from other organizations impacting their franchise, of late. First, it was Tua talking down defensive coordinator Brian Flores. More recently, it’s been Mike Zimmer going scorched earth .

Minnesota Vikings didn’t know extent of Mike Zimmer’s grudge

Zimmer wasn’t here very long before it became pretty obvious isn’t for everybody. It’s probably one major reason why he had to wait so long to become a head coach. It’s also why his frustrations often came out in very public ways.

When he gave an interview to Mark Craig (Star Tribune) , the sentiments were surprising for some of his former players. Darren “Doogie” Wolfson said it was still being talked about this week.

“Let’s just say, that story, those quotes, were a talker in the Vikings locker room on Monday. One in particular being Harrison Smith. I think Harrison was even surprised by some of the things he heard from that story. I know Harrison knew a lot of that, but I don’t know for example if Harrison actually knew that P.A. ( Paul Allen ) and Zimmer had a fractured relationship.”

Darren Wolfson on Mike Zimmer’s interview going around the Vikings locker room (Skor North)

Even his former defensive darlings didn’t know the extent of Mike Zimmer’s anger. Maybe we shouldn’t be surprised by the fact that Zim is still bitter. Then again, how does any of this benefit him? And how does he not realize how bad it makes him look.

Related: Mike Zimmer Unloads All His Minnesota Vikings Baggage

Even if he doesn’t care what media or Minnesota Vikings fans think, this makes him look bad to his current players, and others he may coach in the future. It’s clear Zimmer holds grudges with the best of them. Undoubtedly, fractured relationships are sure to be a byproduct of that.

Harrison Smith isn’t the only former Mike Zimmer Viking who was taken aback by some of the quotes that came out of that interview with Mark Craig, who did a great job getting Zim to open up. Phil Mackey talked to Jeremiah Sirles and Boone, who both played on the OL under Zim, and they thought the quotes were so wild that the story was fake.

“I texted the story to two Vikings players that you guys know very well, Alex Boone and Jeremiah Sirles, and they both were like, ‘this can’t be real, is this a fake story?’. Even them, knowing how crazy Mike Zimmer was and how cantacorous he was, couldn’t believe that 2.5 years later, he would come out and say all these things.”

Phil Mackey – Mackey & Judd (SKOR North)

Mike Zimmer gains little from this episode against Minnesota Vikings

He comes off looking like a scorned grumpy old man, and is still talking about a former employer when his current one has a football game to play in just days.

In the interview, Zimmer makes it clear that, even at 68 years old, he would welcome an opportunity to be a head coach again. Someone should have told him that this isn’t the way to bolster your resume for a future employer.

No matter how good his Dallas defense is, he has once again confirmed all of the personality suggestions that have been made about him over the years. And those assumptions don’t play well for a wannabe head coach in 2024.

Related: Kellen Mond, Kris Boyd React to Mike Zimmer Calling Them Out… but Different

The Vikings will turn their attention to the Giants this week. It remains to be seen how long Zimmer will let this be a sticking point in his mind, but eternity is probably a good bet.

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