Norv Turner resigns as Vikings offensive coordinator, Pat Shurmur to take over duties

Norv Turner has resigned as Vikings offensive coordinator.

Pat Shurmur will be the interim offensive coordinator for the rest of the season, the team announced Wednesday morning. Turner, in his 27th season as an NFL coach, had called plays for the Vikings in 40 games under head coach Mike Zimmer.

Zimmer said that Turner’s job status was not in jeopardy and that he was “surprised” when Turner came into his office at 6:30 Wednesday morning to share his decision.

“There was no thought of making any kind of change,” Zimmer said. He added: “I wasn’t going to make a change. I had no indication that this was going on.”

Quarterback Sam Bradford was equally stunned.

“I obviously didn’t see this coming,” Bradford said.

Turner told ESPN’s Ed Werder that he and Zimmer had opposing opinions on the offense.

“I think it’s just we have different views on where the offense was going,” Turner said, according to Werder.

“I have tremendous respect for Mike Zimmer, our coaching staff, and our players and at this time I think it is in the best interest of the team to step down,” Turner said in a statement released Wednesday morning. “I thank the Wilf family for my time here in Minnesota and want to see our players and coaches achieve success.”

Zimmer and Turner talked at length, Zimmer said, but he was unable to change Turner’s mind.

“He was pretty set in his ideas and his reasons,” Zimmer said.

Shurmur was hired this offseason as the Vikings tight ends coach and, along with new offensive line coach Tony Sparano, was brought in to invigorate the offense with new ideas.

The Vikings lost 20-10 to the Bears on Monday night, the second consecutive defeat after a 5-0 start.

The Vikings’ 11 offensive touchdowns are second-fewest in the NFL only to the Ravens’ 10.