After seven seasons apart, Mike Zimmer is reuniting with one of his former assistant coaches.
NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero report the Vikings are hiring Paul Guenther as a senior defensive assistant. Guenther was most recently the Raiders’ defensive coordinator, but coached under Zimmer in Cincinnati from 2008-2013. When Zimmer became Minnesota’s head coach in 2014, Guenther took over as the Bengals’ defensive coordinator.
Guenther was a defensive assistant, assistant linebackers coach, and linebackers coach under Zimmer with the Bengals.
Las Vegas fired Guenther in December after the Raiders surrendered 200 yards rushing in back-to-back games to the Jets and Colts. Head coach Jon Gruden hired Gus Bradley to replace Guenther for 2021.