New Cowboys hire Mike Zimmer addresses 'reputation' he’s a 'jerk'

Zimmer was accused by former Vikings of creating a "toxic" culture.

Mike Zimmer has been dragged over hot coals by some of his former players since he was fired in early 2022 after eight seasons coaching the Minnesota Vikings. Now, after two seasons out of the NFL, Zimmer is back in Dallas as the defensive coordinator of the Cowboys and on Wednesday he answered a question about him being perceived as a "jerk" by some of his former players. 

"You know, there's a reputation out there that I'm a jerk or something like that. It its what it is, I guess," Zimmer answered. "But since it was announced that I was going to be here I've heard from so many players that played for me – not just defensive backs but linebackers and defensive linemen – texted me and said how happy they are for me. I think if I was such a jerk I wouldn't be hearing from those guys."

Former Vikings cornerback Cam Dantzler, who was a third-round pick by the Vikings in 2020, claimed Zimmer told him that he doesn't talk to injured players when Dantzler was out with an injury in 2021. 

“I’m like, ‘Whoa. OK.’ Those words came out of his mouth,” Dantzler told Tyler Dunne of Go Long. “I’m an outgoing person. People like my personality. I bring joy to the room. I don’t know. He’s an old school type of guy. He wasn’t feeling it.”

Ex-Vikings Eric Kendricks and Adam Thielen, along with current right tackle Brian O'Neill and even former Vikings general manager Rick Spielman have been critical of Zimmer since his firing in January 2022. Even former Vikings cornerback Terence Newman told Dunne that Zimmer created a "toxic" culture.

Dunne also reported speaking to an anonymous former Vikings assistant who referred to Zimmer as "Satan."

Kendricks accused Zimmer of creating a "fear-based" culture in Minnesota. After Zimmer was fired, O'Neill said a "culture shift" would be welcomed in Minnesota. Spielman, who was also fired in January 2022, said Zimmer frequently changing his offensive coordinator made the GM job difficult.

It's unclear how many former Vikings reached out to Zimmer about his new job in Dallas, but he said there have been "several."

"A lot of these guys, when you hear from these guys and they call you – and I've had several Minnesota players call me as well – I think that's, it makes you feel good because they think about you and they appreciate you," Zimmer said. 

The 67-year-old coach, who owns the fourth-highest winning percentage (.562) in Vikings coaching history, trailing Bud Grant (.621), Dennis Green (.610) and Kevin O'Connell (.588), did admit that he is a demanding leader. 

"I'm demanding, I try to get the best out of the players," he said Wednesday. "I had one player who was a terrific player and you couldn't yell at him. You had to put your arm around him, you had to talk to him, whisper. He didn't like to be reprimanded in front of people and so that's what I did with him and he became a terrific player. Other players, I'd get after 'em. You probably know some of the names, one of them was here (in Dallas).

"I'll say it to him. Pacman Jones. He gives me the biggest hugs now when I see him but we had our issues going back and forth. I think everybody's different. You try to hit the button however it is to make them better."

Oct 13, 2019; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer looks on before the start of a game against the Philadelphia Eagles at U.S. Bank Stadium / Credit: David Berding-USA TODAY Sports