NFL coach's romance with supermodel confirmed after rumours
Supermodel Katarina Miketin has confirmed her relationship with Minnesota Vikings coach Mike Zimmer following months of rumours.
Zimmer, 65, has been rumoured to be dating the 40-year-old model since late last year.
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However the romance was only confirmed recently by Miketin.
Photos emerged this week of Zimmer and Miketin enjoying dinner together, while the model also posted a photo in a suite at a Vikings game.
When asked to confirm the romance rumours by Egotastic Sports, Mikatin did exactly that.
Miketin, who is the cover model for the December edition of Maxim Australia, recently opened up about her dating life.
“Ask any of my friends, I have no ‘type,’” she said.
“If I were to say what I am attracted to, I would say it is someone who is secure, extremely loyal, very driven and loves a healthy lifestyle.
“My heart is big and is receptive – almost to a fault.
"He can surprise me with little things. I love flowers, I love when he helps me out and makes little gestures that make my life easier.
"If they take my dog to the vet or go grocery shopping for me, I am theirs! I hate grocery shopping.”
Zimmer has been head coach of the Vikings for the past eight years.
He was previously the defensive co-ordinator at the Cincinnati Bengals, Atlanta Falcons and Dallas Cowboys.
The 65-year-old's wife Vicki died suddenly in 2009.
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Zimmer's Vikings are coming off a 34-31 victory over the Green Bay Packers to take their season record to 5-5.
Justin Jefferson stole the show with eight catches for 169 yards and two touchdowns.
“I heard him say the other day that he lives for games like this,” Zimmer said of Jefferson.
With their record evened at 5-5 to take the lead in an especially large and unremarkable crowd of competitors for the NFC's final two wild-card spots, the Vikings have in Jefferson the type of game-breaking player who can mean the difference between making the playoffs and staying home.
“He’s very confident. I don’t think any of this stuff bothers him," Zimmer said.
"He thinks he’s a great player, and he is a great player.
“He really doesn’t have any prima donna in him as far as not working in practice or being late or anything like that. He just goes about his business.
"I think he just loves to go play and loves to practice, and I think he loves the limelight, too.
"I think he loves catching the ball and scoring touchdowns. Hopefully he can continue to do that.”
In the five games the Vikings have won, Jefferson has been targeted 54 times by Kirk Cousins and totalled 634 receiving yards. In their five losses? Just 35 targets and 310 yards.
“I’m sure he gets frustrated, we all get frustrated, but he never shows it," pass-catching sidekick Adam Thielen.
"He’s just the same guy day in and day out.
"He’s always got a smile on his face, is always having fun, but he also knows when to lock in.”
with Associated Press
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