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Sports

Confident Zimmer takes over as Vikings coach, with 'a chip on my shoulder,' he says to league

Associated Press
Published | Updated
  • Vikings Zimmer Football
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    New Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer answers a question during an NFL football media availability at Winter Park in Eden Prairie, Minn., Friday, Jan. 17, 2014. (AP Photo/Ann Heisenfelt) (The Associated Press)

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    New Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer answers a question during an NFL football media availability at Winter Park in Eden Prairie, Minn., Friday, Jan. 17, 2014. Zimmer is the ninth head coach in the Vikings' franchise history.(AP Photo/Ann Heisenfelt) (The Associated Press)

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. – Mike Zimmer's first opportunity to be an NFL head coach has finally arrived with Minnesota, at age 57 after 35 years as an assistant and two full decades in the NFL.

That long wait didn't deter his confidence. Zimmer was introduced by the Vikings on Friday, two days after he was hired to replace Leslie Frazier.

Zimmer said his new corner office at team headquarters "feels really comfortable" and that he has a chip on his shoulder about letting the rest of the league know he's ready to coach.

Zimmer spoke often about a belief in his own ability as a teacher, motivator and leader. He developed those traits over 14 years as an NFL defensive coordinator, the last six with Cincinnati.

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AP NFL website: http://www.pro32.ap.org