no prior experience with it. Atlanta Falcons When Bobby Petrino was hired to coach the Atlanta Falcons early in 2007, Mike Zimmer agreed to become the new defensive coordinator in Atlanta. Zimmer coached in Atlanta for only one season after Petrino left the Falcons for the University of Arkansas after thirteen games. Zimmer has been very outspoken against Petrino after Petrino's unexpected departure from Atlanta in 2007. Cincinnati Bengals Zimmer was named the defensive coordinator for the Cincinnati Bengals on January 15, 2008. In 2009, Zimmer earned NFL Assistant Coach of the Year honors from Pro Football Weekly/Pro Football Writers and from CBSSports.com, after guiding the Bengals to the 4th ranked defense in the league. In 2011, the Bengals finished with the 7th ranked defense in total yards and 9th ranked defense in points allowed. In 2012, the Bengals finished with the 6th ranked defense in total yards and 8th ranked defense in points allowed, prompting the Cleveland Browns to interview Zimmer for their head coaching vacancy. The Browns eventually hired former offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski on January 11, 2013. Minnesota Vikings On January 15, 2014, Zimmer earned his first head coaching position when the Minnesota Vikings hired him to replace Leslie Frazier. Zimmer was the 9th head coach in Vikings history. Zimmer earned his first win as the Vikings' head coach on September 7, 2014 against the St. Louis Rams, with a score of 34–6. He ended his first year with a 7–9 record, an improvement over the team's 2013 record of 5–10–1, and the best record for a first-year head coach in the Minnesota Vikings franchise since Dennis Green in 1992. In 2015, Zimmer improved on his 2014 record by ending the season with a record of 11–5 and winning the NFC North, ending Green Bay's streak of four consecutive division titles and giving the Vikings their first since 2009. At TCF Bank Stadium, the Vikings lost the wild-card playoff round to the Seattle Seahawks 10–9 while playing in subzero temperatures and the third-coldest game in NFL history. On July 28, 2016, Zimmer signed a contract extension with the Vikings. Terms of the contract were not disclosed. Zimmer suffered a detached retina during the October 31, 2016 Monday Night Football game against the Chicago Bears. On a windy night at Soldier Field, the edge of Zimmer's playcard, which was laminated, blew into his eye. Zimmer underwent emergency eye