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Vikings embark on another season of Mike Zimmer running a top-tier NFL defense

Another year, another season of Zimmer pulling strings on Vikings defense

MARK CRAIG • mcraig@startribune.com

Maybe someday, when he's not feeling 64 years young and so old-school stubborn, Mike Zimmer will take a step back from the defense he created and let someone else call plays on game day.

"I've been trying to relinquish that for years," said the Vikings head coach, laughing at his own headstrong ways as he prepared to open his seventh season in Minnesota with Sunday's game against the Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium.

Why?

"It's just the stress level," he said.