Few people know Vikings coach Mike Zimmer better than defensive line coach Andre Patterson.
He has been coaching with Zimmer on and off for 29 years since they first coached together at Weber State in 1988, when Patterson coached the defensive line and Zimmer was defensive coordinator. The following season Zimmer left for Washington State, and four years later Patterson joined him. They worked together there for two seasons, in 1992and '93.
The next time they worked together, Zimmer hired Patterson away from his first stint with the Vikings. Patterson coached the line here in 1998 and '99 but then joined Zimmer, who was defensive coordinator with the Dallas Cowboys. Patterson remained there for three seasons.
When Zimmer was hired as Vikings head coach in 2014, he made Patterson one of his first hires. Since then they have developed not only one of the best defenses in the NFL but a dynamic defensive line that finished tied for ninth in sacks (41) in 2014, tied for seventh (43) in 2015 and fifth (41) in 2016.
Patterson said having a long professional relationship with Zimmer has been important, but not as important as their long friendship.
"Even during the years when we were not coaching together, we were in constant contact with each other," Patterson said. "I don't think we ever went longer than a week without talking to each other. Even during the football season. You know, he's my boss as the head football coach and I respect him in that role. But most importantly he's a close friend of mine and I know that he knows I'm going to do whatever he asks me to, to the best of my abilities."
Patterson said one of the things he has always liked about Zimmer, and one of the things he believes players like about him, is his direct approach.
"I always say he is a old-school football coach. He reminds me of my first high school football coach," Patterson said. "They're tough, but they're fair. They want their players to be tough. They want football to be played the right way and not break the rules and play within the rules, but play hard and play physical.