What a shock and a tragedy to come home and find your spouse dead. That's what happened to Cincinnati Bengals defense coordinator Mike Zimmer on October 8, 2009, a Thursday. He arrived home to find his wife of twenty-seven years, Vikki Zimmer, age 50, not breathing. The cause of death is yet unknown. In addition to her husband, Vikki Zimmer leaves behind their three children.

Just three days later, Mr. Zimmer coached the Sunday game between the Bengals and the Baltimore Ravens. The Bengals beat the Ravens with a 17-14 score, surely a bittersweet victory for the mourning widower.