:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/26081865/img_20140101_120623.0.jpg)
(3) Mike Zimmer
Current Position: Defensive Coordinator for the Cincinnati Bengals
Specialty: Defense
- Son of former NFL player Bill Zimmer.
- His first coaching job was as a Defensive Assistant at the University of Missouri from 1979-1980
- From 1981-1988, Zimmer coached at Weber State College. He was the Inside Linebackers Coach from '81-'84. and he was the Defensive Backs Coach from '85-'88 all while being the Defensive Coordinator from '83-88
- Zimmer was the Defensive Coordinator for the Washington State Cougars from 1989-1993. In 1993, the Cougars defense was ranked 8th in the nation in total defense and 2nd in the nation in rushing defense
- In 1994, was hired by the Dallas Cowboys as an Assistant Coach of the Nickel defense under Barry Switzer. He was promoted to Defensive Backs Coach in 1995 and held that position until he was promoted to Defensive Coordinator in 2000
- The 2003 Dallas Cowboys gave up the fewest yards in the NFL while running an aggressive 4-3 defense
- Zimmer survived several coaching changes in Dallas (Barry Switzer, Chan Gailey, Dave Campo, and Bill Parcells)
- In 2005, Zimmer implemented the 3-4 defense that was favored by Parcells
- In 2007, Zimmer agreed to join Bobby Petrino's staff as the Defensive Coordinator of the Atlanta Falcons. Zimmer is still mad about Petrino's NFL exit after just 13 games
- Was hired as the Defensive Coordinator of the Bengals in 2008
- In 2009, Zimmer earned NFL Assistant Coach of the Year honors from Pro Football Weekly/Pro Football Writers and CBSSports.com after leading the Bengals to the 4th ranked defense in the league
- In 2011, Bengals had the 7th ranked defense in the NFL. In 2012,Bengals finished with the 6th ranked defense in the NFL
- Cleveland Browns interviewed him for their Head Coaching vacancy before hiring Rob Chudzinski
(1) Darrell Bevell
Current Position: Offensive Coordinator for Seattle Seahawks
Specialty: Offense
- After going undrafted in 1995 as a quarterback, Bevell began his coaching career at Westmar University as a Passing Game Coordinator and Quarterbacks Coach in 1996
- In 1997, Bevell worked as a Graduate Assistant at Iowa State University
- From 1998-1999, Darrell worked as a Wide Receivers Coach at the University of Connecticut
- Bevell got his first NFL job in 2000 as an Offensive Assistant for the Green Bay Packers. In 2003, he was promoted to Quarterbacks Coach where he worked with QB Brett Favre
- In 2006, Brad Childress was hired as the Head Coach of the Minnesota Vikings and he brought Bevell with him to be his Offensive Coordinator
- In 2009, Bevell was reunited with Brett Favre but this time as the Offensive Coordinator and play-caller. The Vikings went 12-4 that year eventually losing to the Super Bowl Champion Saints in the NFC Championship Game in overtime. That year, Favre 4,202 passing yards and 33 touchdowns.with a QB rating of 107.2 (his career best)
- In 2010, Brad Childress was fired mid-season and replaced with Interim Head Coach Lezlie Frazier. When Frazier became Head Coach, the Vikings did not retain Bevell.
- In 2011, Pete Carroll hired Darrell Bevell to be the Offensive Coordinator of the Seattle Seahawks
- During the 2012 off-season, Bevell did a lot of scouting work on Russell Wilson out of Wisconsin (Darrell's Alma-mater). Bevell then attended Russell Wilson's Pro day which few NFL scouts attended. It was thought that the Seahawks were set at QB with Matt Flynn and Tavaris Jackson but Seattle ended up drafting Russell Wilson in the 3rd round. When Pete Carroll was reached for comment on the Wilson pick, he said, "It was Bevell's project."
- After Wilson won the QB competition coming out of Training Camp, the Bevell/Wilson duo's first year produced a 11-5 record and 2nd place in the NFC West
- In 2012, Seahawks rushing offense improved from 21st in the NFL to 3rd averaging 161.2 yards per game
- Currently, the Seahawks are 13-3 and have the 4th best rushing attack in the NFL
- Through two seasons under Bevell, Wilson has accumulated a 100.6 QB rating and a completion percentage of 63.6. Also, has thrown 51 TDs and 19 INTs
Feel free to add any additional information/stories about either candidate in the comments section and it may be added to their bio.
