STEELE SPORTS

For many Vikings fans, the firing of head coach Mike Zimmer and general manager Rick Spielman brought a sigh of relief.
Personally, I am a fan of the Vikings’ move to bring a fresh start to the organization and appreciate owner Zygi Wilf finally putting his foot down and letting the Vikings fanbase know that middle-of-the-pack seasons will no longer be tolerated.
However, by firing the head coach and general manager, the Vikings have some significant holes to fill – a hole that requires some very important decisions to be made.
During the Zimmer and Spielman era, the Vikings added some key players to the team and created a solid foundation for the future.
Stars such as Dalvin Cook, Justin Jefferson, Danielle Hunter and Kirk Cousins – yes, I said it – all became Vikings during the last eight seasons.
How the coaching staff has elected to use these players is an altogether different story.
Zimmer’s focus on defense and his use of a majority pro-style offense led to a consistently stale form of football for fans to watch on Sundays.
Running the ball out of the I-formation on early downs and then relying on Cousins to convert third-and-long scenarios was an all too familiar scenario – something akin to watching the same old movie over and over.
However, fans may not have to worry about this being the case much longer.
According to multiple Vikings sources, the team is expected to interview former Philadelphia Eagles head coach Doug Pederson.
My initial reaction to hearing the news was simple: it makes sense.
Pederson, an offensive-minded coach and former starting quarterback under Andy Reid in Philadelphia, has been praised over his career for his ability to run an offense.
More specifically, what Pederson brings to the table is a fresh look on offense that emphasizes the passing attack out of mostly spread formations.
This style of football would fit well with the Vikings, who already boast the 11th-best passing offense in terms of yardage, along with the ninth-best offense in terms of passing touchdowns and the league-best offense in interceptions allowed.
While it is not yet confirmed, I believe that Pederson should be a front-runner in the coaching conversation and a definite candidate to sign a contract to become the Vikings’ next head coach.
As for general managers, anybody’s guess is as good as mine as to who could be selected.
One candidate that I would love to see the Vikings pursue is current Detroit Lions Senior Personnel Executive John Dorsey.
Dorsey brings to the table six years of former general manager experience in the NFL and was responsible in large part for rebuilding the Cleveland Browns before being fired in 2019.
Getting Dorsey away from a 3-13-1 Lions team after the 2021-2022 season could be a steal for the organization.
As Bob Dylan once famously sang, “The times they are a-changin’,” and I can’t think of a better time for the Vikings to take a new path.