Former Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer joins Deion Sanders' staff at Jackson State

Deion Sanders has put Jackson State firmly in the national spotlight. That's what happens when the man known as "Primetime" is running the show.

Sanders is fresh off an 11-2 season that saw Jackson State win the Southwestern Athletic Conference football championship and a berth in the Celebration Bowl — where the Tigers ultimately lost to South Carolina State, 31-10.

Now heading into his third season as head coach, Sanders has called on an old friend and coach, Mike Zimmer, to join his staff down in Mississippi. Zimmer was an assistant coach with the Dallas Cowboys when Primetime rose to fame. Sanders was in Dallas from 1995 to 1999, where Zimmer served as his defensive backs coach.

Zimmer spent the past eight seasons as head coach of the Minnesota Vikings before being unceremoniously fired despite a 72-56-1 overall record. He did have two losing seasons in a row, which led to his firing.

With Sanders on the rise at Jackson State, Zimmer confirmed with HBCU Gameday that he's joined up with the eight-time Pro Bowler and NFL Hall of Famer.

“He’s asked me about it a few times. The pay’s not good,” Zimmer said, jokingly. “But I do love Deion and I’d do anything for him.”

“He can open up so many doors for these young men but I’m extremely impressed with the way he’s teaching them about life and not just football. And taking care of them, and talking to them about the real things that go on in the world and not the fluff stuff.”

Jackson State kicks off its 2022 season against SWAC opponent, Florida A&M, on Sunday, September 4th.