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Coaches' Sons Form Relationships On Vikings' Staff

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- When Adam Zimmer was growing up, he'd frequently tag along when his father went into work.

"I thought it was great," he said, "growing up as a coach's son."

And when Scott Turner was coming up the coaching ranks, he knew anytime he had a question, he could call one of the most innovative minds in football.

And his dad would always answer.

"I mean, a lot of what I learned in coaching I learned from my dad," he said.

Their childhoods were filled with following their fathers around the football facility. Now, every day is Bring Your Son to Work day at the Vikings headquarters.

Adam Zimmer is the Vikings' linebackers coach, working alongside his father, head coach Mike Zimmer. Scott Turner is Minnesota's quarterbacks coach, working alongside his father, offensive coordinator Norv Turner.

And both say it's a tremendous blessing to work alongside their dads.

"Just for me professionally, being able to work and learn from him is outstanding," Scott Turner said."And just personally, me being able to see him every day."

Adam Zimmer can relate.

"I knew all along I wanted to work with my dad at some point to see how he does it," he said, "Because I think he's the best."

There's a bond between father and son. But also between son and son. Scott and Adam find it really easy to relate to each other.

"We know what each other's going through," Adam said. "Our dads are going to be harder on us than they are on us than they are on everybody else. So we know the drill."

Scott agreed.

"We both grew up as coaches' sons and now we're both working with our fathers," he said, "so there's a lot of similarities there."

Their dads are the two most prominent coaches on the team. And they themselves are responsible for developing the two most prominent rookies -- the first round draft picks -- Turner with Teddy Bridgewater, Zimmer with Anthony Barr. They've been given the reigns to some big pieces.

"I know," Adam said. "We've got a lot of responsibility, a lot to live up to."

A lot to live up to in another way, too. When your fathers are as famous and successful as theirs, how can you ever measure up? Talk about a big shadow.

"I used to think about it more," Scott said. "I mean now, honestly, you're just here, and I've got a job to do, and I just try to do my job to the best of my ability. And I feel like if I'm doing that and I'm putting in the work necessary, then I'll make a name for myself that way."

Adam has a similar sentiment.

"Living up to my dad's shadow, I don't try to live up to him," he said. "Because he's as good as it gets. So what I try to do is just be the best as I can be."

Which has to be pretty good, to be at this level. So anyone who says Zimmer and Turner are only here because the other Zimmer and Turner are here, well, they have a point, to a certain extent, Turner says.

But only to a certain extent.

"I'm not naive to the fact that my dad's helped me get jobs," he said. "But I think -- and the same thing I think is the case with Adam or other people that are coach's sons -- you can get your foot in the door, and that's hard in coaching, I understand that, to get that start, but once you've got that foot in the door, you've got to prove it for yourself. Because this is a results-oriented business. And if you're not pulling your own weight, then it doesn't really matter who you are, you're going to get replaced."

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