Cowboys DC Mike Zimmer fires shots at former Vikings GM Rick Spielman, traces issues back to 2021 Draft

Mike Zimmer and Rick Spielman had a tethered relationship. In a recent interview, Zimmer went back to dig into the origins of their beef and the problems it created. From draft day conundrums to off-field issues and on-field performances, Zimmer laid everything out in the open.

The Minnesota Vikings hired Zimmer as their head coach in 2014, while Rick Spielman became the general manager in 2012. In a recent interview with Minneapolis Star Tribune, the current Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator stated the origin of issues was from the 2021 draft.

Zimmer highlighted, that the Vikings had a no. 1 QB in Kirk Cousins and did not need to waste their first-round pick at the same position.

“I walk in before the draft and Rick is watching quarterback interviews from the combine,” Zimmer said. “He hadn’t told me anything. Normally, he always kept me abreast of everything. And he and I were always good.”

While the Vikings did not draft a quarterback in the first round, former GM Spielman got his say in the four picks of the round three. The Vikings drafted QB Kellen Mond, LB Chazz Surratt, OL Wyatt Davis and DE Patrick Jones II. This was the beginning of the end of their relationship, per Zimmer.

“When he picked Mond, I walked out of the room,” Zimmer said. “I left the building. I didn’t even talk to [Spielman] on the phone.” Rick said [the next day], ‘You mad at me?’. I said, ‘Yeah, I think you took four backups when we had guys there, I thought were starters.’”

“From that time on, it just kind of got worse between us. And I’m not saying nothing was my fault. I’m sure there were plenty of things that were my fault.”

NFL: Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings - Source: Imagn

After less-than-stellar results on the field and a broken front-office relationship, both men were fired from their positions at Vikings in January 2022.

Mike Zimmer will bring a new air to the Cowboys

This is not the first time Mike Zimmer has set foot in Dallas. He worked at the Cowboys from 1994 to 2006. Zimmer rose through the ranks, eventually landing on the DC post for the last 6 years.

Former Cowboys great and Hall of Famer DeMarcus Ware has hit out a warning signal to the current crop at the Cowboys. He advised the roster that it would need to shape up or be in a state of culture shock under Zimmer.