The list of people following Deion Sanders to Colorado keeps growing.
The new Buffaloes head coach confirmed in an interview Monday that former NFL head coach Mike Zimmer will join Sanders’ staff in Boulder.
“Coach Zimmer’s coming, too, by the way,” Sanders said in a video interview posted to Thee Pregame Show’s YouTube channel. “So another two head coaches. One in the NFL as well as collegiate. But not only that. Forget the titles – they know this game and they know kids and they’ve been capable of making tremendous decisions with the kids and the young men in mind.
“So that’s what I adore the most – understanding how to establish relationships with these young men.”
Who is Mike Zimmer?
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Zimmer was most recently the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings, where he had a nine-year tenure.
Zimmer began coaching in 1979 as a part-time defensive assistant at Missouri. From there he went to Weber State for eight years before landing at Washington State as a defensive coordinator. He parlayed that job into a 13-year stint with the Dallas Cowboys, the latter seven seasons as their defensive coordinator.
Zimmer left Dallas for the Atlanta Falcons in 2007 to be defensive coordinator under coach Bobby Petrino. After Petrino’s quick departure, Zimmer landed in Cincinnati to serve as the Bengals’ defensive coordinator from 2008-2013 before getting his first head-coaching gig in Minnesota.
Is there a past relationship between Mike Zimmer and Deion Sanders?
After being fired from the Vikings, Zimmer served on Sanders’ staff at Jackson State as an analyst. Sanders has not specified Zimmer’s new role at Colorado.
Sanders played under Zimmer with the Cowboys from 1995-99 when Zimmer was defensive backs coach.
Who else is Deion Sanders bringing to Colorado?
In addition to bringing along his son and starting quarterback Shedeur Sanders, Sanders is arriving in Boulder with a ton of luggage in tow.
Cornerback Travis Hunter, the nation’s top recruit last season, will be joining Sanders next season. Wide receiver Winston Watkins is also following Sanders, who landed top-ranked cornerback Cormani McLain’s college commitment. Sanders’ younger son, Shilo, is also Boulder-bound.
Additionally, Brett Bartolone (wide receivers), Tim Brewster (tight ends), Gary “Flea” Harrell (assistant head coach/running backs), Andre’ Hart (linebackers), Kevin Mathis (cornerbacks), and Dennis Thurman (director of quality control – defense), all join Sanders’ staff from Jackson State.
