Adam Zimmer, the son of the former Minnesota Vikings coach Mike Zimmer and an NFL assistant coach for 17 seasons, passed away Monday at the age of 38.
Corri Zimmer White, the daughter of Mike as well as Adam’s sister, announced the news on Tuesday morning on Instagram.
Adam Zimmer was living in Minnesota while working for the Bengals. It was reported that the Mendota Heights police department received an inquiry to conduct a welfare check on Monday afternoon at 1:33 p.m. CT, according to the police Chief Wayne Wegener Jr.
The police arrived at the home of Zimmer and discovered him dead inside. Wegener explained that the office of his “not investigating this as a suspicious death.”
The Hennepin County medical examiner will determine the cause of death, and then issue the official declaration.
Zimmer was a part of the Vikings coach’s staff after his father was appointed head coach in the year 2014. He was the linebackers coordinator for six years prior to being promoted to co-defensive coordinator in the year 2020. He was dismissed as was his father, along with all of the staff coaches following the 2021 season.
“We are heartbroken to hear about the passing of Adam Zimmer,” Vikings management announced in an announcement. “Adam was a kind, respectful man, and over his years in Minnesota, it was evident he cared tremendously about his family, his players, his fellow coaches and the Vikings front office staff. Our thoughts are with Mike, Corri, Marki and the entire Zimmer family.”
The former Vikings director of operations Rick Spielman also issued a statement, stating, “My thoughts and prayers go out to Coach Zimmer and his family. Adam was a very good coach and a wonderful person. He will be truly missed.”
Vikings player Kirk Cousins also said on social media that Kirk Cousins found himself “deeply saddened” by the announcement, and also said that he considered Adam Zimmer a “tremendous coach & person.”
Zimmer started his coaching career in the year 2006 when he joined his team the New Orleans Saints as an assistant linebackers coach. He was in a similar role at the Kansas City Chiefs from 2010 until 2012. He was a part of his father’s team as a coach in Cincinnati with the position of assistant defense backs coaches in 2013 in Mike Zimmer’s final season in the role of defensive coordinator prior to his transfer with the Vikings.
Recently, Adam Zimmer had been acting in the role of offensive coach for the Bengals.
“Our organization has had the privilege of knowing and working with the Zimmer family for 15 years. We have the highest regard for Mike and Adam, and we are incredibly saddened by this tragic news,” Bengals president Mike Brown announced in an announcement.
“Mike and Adam were more than just coaches for us — they were friends. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Zimmer family at this time.”
“We had fond memories of Adam from the four years he spent with our organization,” the Saints released their statement. “Adam was knowledgeable, hard working, well-liked by everyone he came into contact with, and enthusiastic. During his time with the Saints, he quickly developed into an excellent coach.”
In her post to Instagram Zimmer White wrote of the sudden death of the family matriarch Vikki Zimmer in 2009.
“My brother was one of my best friends,” she wrote, “especially after my mom died. We became so close. He was always there for me and was always first to turn up and be a volunteer at my foundation’s events.”
