Minnesota Vikings

Mike Zimmer's sideline eye patch is a throwback power move for the ages

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

foxsports

Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer is sporting an eye patch on the sideline Sunday, proving that real men still exist.

Mike Zimmer is less than two weeks removed from major eye surgery to repair a detached retina. Rather than stick to bed rest, like most of us would, Zimmer missed just one game and is back on the sideline coaching this Sunday.

The Vikings head coach is sporting protective sunglasses and gauze to form a makeshift eye patch, meaning he’s literally coaching with one eye open. It’s the manliest throwback power move you’ll see all season long; somewhere Vince Lombardi is beaming with pride. This isn’t something a head coach in the NFL does these days, it’s something the legends of yesteryear are remembered for.

Yet, here’s Zimmer playing the part of a living legend. This is basically the embodiment of Vikings football. It’s a blend of throwback defense mixed with basic survival skills in today’s league. Bud Grant showed up to a subzero temperature game last year in a polo; Zimmer playing the role of cycloptic head coach on Sunday is a spiritual sequel to that moment.

That’s a man that will stop at nothing to help his team win. Zimmer’s Vikings went from undefeated a few weeks ago to on the outside of the playoff picture looking in. Life in the NFL comes at you fast, and it’s hard enough to see it coming with both eyes open. Zimmer isn’t fazed by any of that and sure as hell won’t let something like a detached retina stop him from continuing this playoff push.

Minnesota has been searching for a head coach that has what it takes to craft the team into a Super Bowl winner. That might not be this year, but if you weren’t on board with Zimmer before this then you have no reason to not be after today.