Ex-Vikings QB Kellen Mond details a dysfunctional regime and a head coach who reportedly never spoke to him.
Former Minnesota Vikings are in the news this weekend as one player revealed a dysfunctional prior coaching regime in Minnesota. Ex-Vikings backup quarterback Kellen Mond took to social media to reveal his thoughts on former head coach Mike Zimmer and Mond's NFL experience.
Mond took to LinkedIn to write the following of his time in Minnesota.
"When I was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings, my head coach walked out of the draft room. We never spoke. Not once. ... When the GM and offensive coordinator wanted to draft me, the head coach was against it... again. I got the call. He walked out.
When I played for the Vikings I never saw the general manager and head coach speak. Imagine the two most important people in any organization never talking. What happens to that business? It crumbles."
Whether or not Mond's claim is his perception or reality is difficult to nail down, but that does not invalidate the claims. He discussed how the lack of stability affected his playing days.
"I was making life-changing money. Living a childhood dream. And I was miserable. A dysfunctional organization, COVID restrictions, waking up to -29 degree weather, not playing for the first time in my career. All of these combined to make my rookie year with the Vikings one of the toughest of my life."
It seems evident, if the claims are true, that Mond was not set up for success in Minnesota. One Mike Zimmer media availability circulating on social media seemed to add credence to the claims, though not completely conclusive.
One Vikings reporter asked, “Do you want to get a look at Kellen Mond next week?” Zimmer replied, “Not particularly.”
Another reporter asked the follow up, “Mike, why don’t you want to give him a look?” Zimmer responded, “I see him every day.”
Of course, coaches who have relationships with their players may also respond in similar ways to questions from the media about playing time. Sometimes coaches respond in that way perhaps to not give permission for media members to question coaching decisions, right or wrong.
Mond may not be the only player with similar experiences in the NFL. Backup quarterbacks are notorious for receiving minimal attention is a competitive league. Former Indianapolis Colts offensive coordinator Tom Moore said he did not give reps to quarterbacks not named Peyton Manning, because essentially if Manning were out the Colts would be in a world of hurt.
What is clear is Mond described a harsh reality of the NFL: Sometimes your head coach does not want to draft you, and the lack of support from a head coach can take a toll on player confidence.
We'll keep an eye on the story as it develops.