Mike Zimmer’s tenure as head coach of the Minnesota Vikings was never short on drama, but the latest chapter-unfolding years after his departure-adds a fresh layer to an already complicated legacy. This time, it’s former Vikings quarterback Kellen Mond who’s speaking out, and he’s not holding back.
Mond, a third-round pick out of Texas A&M in 2021, had a brief and largely uneventful NFL career. He appeared in just one regular season game-Week 17 against the Green Bay Packers during his rookie year-and never saw meaningful action again.
That one game would end up being his only NFL snap. He bounced around the league, spending time with the Browns, Colts, and Saints before landing in the UFL with the San Antonio Brahmas last season.
But it’s not his on-field performance that’s making headlines now-it’s his off-field revelations.
In a recent LinkedIn post, Mond opened up about his time in Minnesota, painting a picture of dysfunction at the top of the organization. According to Mond, when the Vikings drafted him, Zimmer walked out of the draft room.
The two never spoke-not once. That’s a staggering claim, especially considering the importance of the quarterback-head coach relationship in today’s NFL.
Zimmer, for his part, had already acknowledged walking out of the room when Mond was picked. So that part isn’t new. What is new is the depth of Mond’s frustration and how he now interprets the environment he walked into as a rookie.
He didn’t stop there. Mond also pointed to the long-standing disconnect between Zimmer and then-general manager Rick Spielman-particularly over the signing of Kirk Cousins back in 2018. He claims the two men barely spoke during their final season together, a rift that was widely speculated at the time but rarely confirmed by those involved.
“Imagine the two most important people in any organization never talking,” Mond wrote. “What happens to that business?
It crumbles. And that’s exactly what happened.”
It’s a pointed observation, and one that sheds light on just how fractured things may have been behind the scenes during Zimmer’s final year in Minnesota.
Mond also shared a leadership takeaway from his experience: “Every time you show up to work, you control the energy in the building. The way you act.
The way you speak. Your body language.
If you forget that enough times, don’t be surprised when you have a disconnect with others in your organization. Leadership is an atmosphere you create, not a title you hold.”
That’s not just a critique of Zimmer-it’s a broader reflection on what leadership should look like in a high-stakes, high-pressure environment like the NFL. And coming from a player who never quite found his footing in the league, it’s a reminder that the culture around a young quarterback can be just as important as the talent he brings to the table.
Zimmer’s relationship with quarterbacks outside of Teddy Bridgewater was always a bit rocky. Whether it was his icy demeanor, his defensive-minded focus, or just a lack of connection, it’s clear that Mond never felt supported.
Publicly, Zimmer didn’t hide his disinterest. When asked late in the 2021 season if he wanted to see Mond play in the final game, Zimmer famously replied, “Not particularly.”
When pressed for a reason, he added, “I see him every day.”
That moment stuck. And now, years later, it’s clear it stuck with Mond, too.
To be fair, Mond was given opportunities beyond Minnesota. He had stops with three other NFL teams and a stint in the UFL, but none of them resulted in a long-term role. His pro career never took off, and at this point, he’s pivoted to life after football-pursuing photography, art, and building a presence on social media.
Still, it’s telling that he chose now to speak out. Whether it’s a form of closure or simply sharing lessons learned, Mond’s comments offer a rare, unfiltered look at how fractured leadership and poor communication at the top can ripple down to the rest of the locker room.
Zimmer has since acknowledged some of his missteps from his time in Minnesota. But his handling of Mond-both in public and behind closed doors-remains a sore spot. And now, thanks to Mond’s candid reflections, it’s one that’s back in the spotlight.