Things did not end well between the Minnesota Vikings and Mike Zimmer four years ago, when he was shown the door. The veteran coach has taken several shots at his old franchise. Last year, he was reportedly set to retire, but a comeback is in the works.

The Denver Broncos could be the next stop in his NFL career, where he would reunite with his old coworker Sean Payton. The two experienced skippers crossed paths on the Dallas Cowboys staff from 2003 to 2005. He also knows Broncos GM George Paton from his time in Minnesota.

Broncos insider Mike Klis reported Monday, “Per source, #Broncos visited last week with veteran coach Mike Zimmer about a senior coaching position. Nothing imminent but there is mutual interest. Zimmer has been a football coach since 1979 and started his NFL career in 1994.”

Zimmer was the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator in 2024, but his unit left much to be desired. When the organization parted ways with head coach Mike McCarthy, Zimmer was not retained and decided to call it a career. Looks like that might have only lasted a year.

His previous job in the NFL was with the Vikings, whom he head-coached from 2014 through 2021. When he arrived, he took over a franchise without an identity, and he quickly established a culture — and a defense — that regained national respect for his club.

At his peak, he led the Vikings to the NFC Championship game in 2017 behind an outstanding defense. In his eight seasons, the Vikings ranked 7th in points allowed. Excluding 2020 and 2021, his squad ranked 2nd, trailing only the Patriots.

In his final two seasons in Minnesota, the defense was the clear weakness. Perhaps he failed to make adjustments later in his career, but it’s only fair to note that he worked with subpar defensive personnel in both years and injuries further increased the struggles.

But he didn’t just get fired for his defenses; the culture in the building had reached a point where the usually patient Vikings ownership group wanted to overhaul everything, letting go of both Zimmer and GM Rick Spielman.

Zimmer gave a feisty interview in September 2024, telling the Star Tribune that he hadn’t watched a single Vikings game in the two seasons since his departure.

A couple of storylines about him not getting along with general manager Rick Spielman, going so far that they didn’t even talk in the later stretches of their Vikings’ employment, and the fact that Zimmer refused to address the locker room following his dismissal because his players got him fired. All of that might explain why the team didn’t reach the postseason in his final two years with the organization.

Still, during his time with the Vikings, he oversaw the team with the 10th-best record, 72-56-1, His playoff success was limited to a couple of wins, both over his potential new boss, Sean Payton and his Saints.

At the end of the day, Zimmer is still viewed as a brilliant defensive mind and that’s why the Broncos are interested. They have one of the league’s elite units and want to keep it that way.

Chad Jensen of SI.com commented, “The Broncos fielded one of the NFL’s best defenses in back-to-back seasons, leading the league in sacks over that span. Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph has done an excellent job, and he’ll be returning in 2026 after all the head-coaching vacancies dried up.”

Joseph was viewed as a hot head coaching candidate, but like Brian Flores, hasn’t gotten the desired interest.

“The Broncos lost their defensive-coordinator-in-waiting when Jim Leonhard was hired by the Buffalo Bills last month. Zimmer is getting up there in age, but if he’s hired as a senior assistant, it makes me wonder whether he’ll be the fail-safe in the event that Joseph finally gets a second bite at the head-coaching apple following the 2026 season.”

If the Broncos do add Zimmer in a senior advisory role, it would mark a notable return for one of the most influential defensive minds of the past decade. While his tenure in Minnesota ended on a complicated note, his reputation around the league as a defensive strategist remains intact, which helps explain why a contender with an already strong defense would explore adding his experience to the coaching staff.

Zimmer, 69, might not be done with the NFL after all.

Janik Eckardt is a German sports nerd, who likes numbers and stats. He chose the Vikings to be his … More about Janik Eckardt

Marcus Rashford is in strong form for Barcelona but old habits have reared their head

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Marcus Rashford once admitted to breaking the rules at Manchester United as his manager at Barcelona has introduced stricter measures to combat players who are late to training or on a matchday.

Currently on loan from United, Rashford has rediscovered his finest form. Yet punctuality issues that previously plagued him at Old Trafford have continued to dog him.

Earlier this season, Barcelona boss Hansi Flick dropped him from the squad as a consequence. Rashford arrived just two minutes late to a team meeting and was subsequently left out of the starting line-up for a match against Getafe.

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Flick had instructed his players to be present for a 9:30am meeting on matchday, followed by an ‘activation session’ at 11am. Despite being only two minutes late, the manager’s strict disciplinary code meant Rashford did not feature from the off.

The German head coach has since introduced even tighter regulations for players who indulge in tardiness – with offenders now facing a steep financial penalty. Barca forward Ferran Torres recently revealed: “Hansi Flick has just changed the rules on arriving late. If it’s match day and you’re late, you have to pay €40,000 (£34,900) fine”.

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In 2024, Rashford faced severe disciplinary action after attending parties and skipping training in Manchester following consecutive midweek nights out in Belfast. The forward missed a Friday training session, citing illness as his reason for absence, and was ultimately slapped with a £650,000 fine.

Rewind to January 2023 and Rashford himself admitted that he was left out of United’s starting line-up against Wolves after oversleeping and arriving late to a team meeting. Former United boss Erik ten Hag then left the forward on the bench for the tie at Molineux.

Speaking to BT Sport, Rashford said: “I was a little bit late for a meeting – I overslept. It’s the team rules and it’s a mistake that can happen.

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“I’m disappointed not to play, but I understand the decision and I’m happy that we managed to win the game anyway. I think we can draw a line under it and move on.”

Barcelona currently sit top of the La Liga standings, one point clear of rivals Real Madrid, following their 3-0 victory over Levante on Sunday. Flick now appears to be instilling first-class standards at the club as he chases his second consecutive league title with the Spanish giants.

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He said: “The group is convinced of the work we are doing. It is not a simple situation, but communication is essential. We have been very clear and honest with each other. I ask them questions, it’s my way of managing the team.

“We need leaders in the dressing room and for that, it is key to speak to them at the same level. After that, the decisions are mine. I want the players to take responsibility and they are doing that.”

Bridgerton season 4 part 2 is going to carry on the recent chapter of Netflix’s Regency era drama, centering the story around Benedict Bridgerton and his love affair with Sophie Baek. Following the launch of part 1 that took viewers to a masquerade ball and introduced a Lady in Silver, the excitement level is getting higher for the season finale.

Bridgerton season 4 part 2 is the second half of an eight-episode season that covers the third book in Julia Quinn’s series, An Offer from a Gentleman. After the first part set up the emotional drama, the new episodes should bring to a close the main issue of fantasy versus reality that characterizes Benedict and Sophie’s love story.

Bridgerton season 4 part 2 premieres on February 26 at 12 a.m. PT on Netflix, concluding Benedict and Sophie’s romance arc with returning cast members including Luke Thompson, Yerin Ha, and key members of the Bridgerton family.

What is the release date of Bridgerton season 4 part 2 and what to expect?

Bridgerton season 4 part 2 will be released on February 26, 12 a.m. PT on Netflix. The launch will wrap up Benedict’s storyline in the season and reveal the state of his relationship with Sophie following the disclosures of Part 1.

Season 4 focuses on Benedict, played by Luke Thompson, who at the outset is against getting married while his brothers have already set up their family life. His attitude changes after he runs into a woman wearing a mask at his mother Violet’s masquerade ball.

He only knows her as the Lady in Silver and henceforth, he looks for her in every corner of society, not knowing that she is Sophie, a maid working under Lady Araminta Gun.

As Part 1 makes clear, Benedict and Sophie come to the world from totally different places. Showrunner Jess Brownell shed light on this theme, saying that Benedict is a man who fantasizes. Sophie is a woman who has to cope with a harsh reality. Brownell went on to say that the pair needs to find a middle ground, a place where the extremes meet, for love to blossom, in a chat with Netflix Tudum.

Luke Thompson, an actor in the series, mentioned that the plot of the show is inspired by the tradition of fairy tales, and that the series combines children’s ideas of magic and romance with the familiar world of Bridgerton.

Yerin Ha, the actress portraying Sophie, expressed that the character’s strength and the social challenges that she faces kept her interested. Ha also mentioned Quinn’s book, as Sophie is a mixture of temper and vulnerability, which is the way she tried to show her character on the screen.

In addition, Brownell quoted, in the Netflix press release, that Sophie should not be seen as a typical damsel in distress but rather as an intelligent and cunning character whose survival instincts at times hinder her from entering into love.

Read More: A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms season 2 reveals first details: From Episode count to plotline, everything we know so far

What is the returning cast for Bridgerton season 4 part 2?

Thompson in the lead role of Benedict Bridgerton. Several well-known cast members also reprise their roles, such as Simone Ashley in the role of Kate Bridgerton, Jonathan Bailey as Anthony Bridgerton, Nicola Coughlan as Penelope Bridgerton, Claudia Jessie as Eloise Bridgerton, Ruth Gemmell as Violet Bridgerton, and Golda Rosheuvel as Queen Charlotte. Julie Andrews serves as the narrator and the voice of Lady Whistledown.

There are several new faces introduced this season, namely Katie Leung as Lady Araminta Gun, Michelle Mao as Rosamund Li, and Isabella Wei as Posy Li. Brownell depicted Araminta and her daughter Rosamund as very shrewd and strategic players in the marriage market, while Posy is described as more dreamy and less scheming. These statements have also been shared in Netflix’s official release.

Other characters coming back in Bridgerton season 4 part 2 are Emma Naomi as Alice Mondrich and Hugh Sachs as Brimsley, who both have been given bigger roles in the main cast.

The filming for the season was conducted at Shepperton Studios, which is located near London. There, a newly built backlot recreates the Georgian and Regency architecture, including Mayfair streetscapes.

Production designer Alison Gartshore, in collaboration with Antony Cartlidge, supervising art director, and Adam David Grant, art director, was responsible for the set expansion project.

Read More: HBO adds fuel to the ongoing IMDB battle between Game of Thrones and Breaking Bad fans over A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms episode 5

Bridgerton season 4 part 2 will be available to stream exclusively on Netflix.