Bill Belichick and Vikings coach Mike Zimmer are gushing over each other
"I think it’s a compliment that he thinks that of me."
The Patriots and the Vikings will face off this Sunday at Gillette Stadium, a showdown that’s quickly become one of the more anticipated games of the season.
Patriots head coach Bill Belichick is the most-tenured coach in the NFL and has earned respect from peers and opponents throughout his career.
Mike Zimmer, on the other hand, had a rockier start early in his tenure with the Minnesota Vikings but has greatly improved the organization, transforming them into a team with serious playoff potential. Heading into Week 13 against the Patriots, the Vikings sit in second place in their division, the NFC North.
Just a few days ahead of the game, the two head coaches had nothing but good things to say about each other.
“I think Mike’s one of the best coaches in the league, no question about it,” Belichick said, per ESPN’s Courtney Cronin. “He’s done a great job with that program. He’s been one of the great coaches in the league for a couple decades.”
Belichick complimented Zimmer’s coaching style, saying that the Patriots try to emulate what the Vikings do to give them ideas and to learn from the way they do things defensively.
“This has really been an impressive team to watch,” Belichick said. “I think that Coach Zimmer’s done, as usual, a tremendous job with his team. … They’re a very, very good football team. They have good talent. They’re really well-coached. Defensively, this is, I’d say, as good of coaching as we’ll face. I think Mike does a tremendous job with fundamentals, with their schemes.”
Zimmer returned the favor, calling Belichick “the best coach ever,” according to The Boston Globe‘s Jim McBride.
“You know, he’s the best coach ever,” Zimmer said in response to Belichick’s accolades. “I think it’s a compliment that he thinks that of me. Hopefully, he’s not just saying it because we play them this week.”
Zimmer’s overall 45-29-1 record and playoff appearances in two of the last three seasons have grabbed the attention of other NFL teams, registering the Vikings as a real playoff contender.
“I think [Belichick] really tries to make you win left-handed,” Zimmer said on Wednesday. “He does a great job in everything. I have a lot of respect for him and the fact that his teams are extremely disciplined, they don’t beat themselves [and] to be able to maintain and sustain this success that they’ve had year in and year out. Different players, injuries, things like that, I think that’s a credit to coaching.”
