By The NFL world lost an absolute legend this Saturday morning. The Minnesota Vikings and the family of Bud Grant announced that the legendary head coach and Hall-of-Famer had passed away at the age of 95.
“We are absolutely devastated to announce legendary Minnesota Vikings head coach Bud Grant has passed away this morning at age 95,” the Vikings’ official Twitter account wrote. “We, like all Vikings and NFL fans, are shocked and saddened by this terrible news.”
We are absolutely devastated to announce legendary Minnesota Vikings head coach and Hall of Famer Bud Grant has passed away this morning at age 95.
We, like all Vikings and NFL fans, are shocked and saddened by this terrible news. pic.twitter.com/z2NNlNAY44
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) March 11, 2023
Bud Grant took over as the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings in 1967 and quickly turned the team into one of the NFL’s best. The success he had in the Canadian Football League (CFL) with the Winnipeg Bombers immediately translated. In his second year, he led the Vikings to a divisional championship and his first NFL playoffs appearance. A year later, he led the team to its first NFL Championship and its first Super Bowl appearance.
Grant, who was the first coach to lead a team to four Super Bowl appearances, retired after the 1983 NFL season but returned for one final season in 1985. He retired as the eighth most successful coach in league history with a 169-108-5 0verall record. During his time in Minnesota, he led the Vikings to four Super Bowl appearances, 11 division titles, one league championship and three NFC Championships.
Grant also was an executive with the Vikings from 1986 until his passing, serving as a consultant. While he’s known more for his time as a coach, Grant was a three-sport athlete at the University of Minnesota, in football, basketball and baseball. After college, he played for the Minneapolis Lakers (NBA), Philadelphia Eagles (NFL) and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (CFL).
The world mourned the passing of Grant on Saturday.
Bud Grant was the epitome of toughness and what the Minnesota Vikings were in the days of the Purple People Eaters. He will be missed, but never forgotten pic.twitter.com/LjvsxKilQ1
— Tyler Forness (@TheRealForno) March 11, 2023
One of the things I noticed when I did the Legacy of Failure for the Vikings was the great respect I developed for Bud Grant after learning about him and his coaching style.
A great leader, tactician, and a man whose corpse could probably still kick my ass.
RIP Bud. https://t.co/KvVunGS5Di
— Schlasser (@UrinatingTree) March 11, 2023
Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell said recently that he met with Bud Grant almost every week during the 2022 season. Even at 95, and 37 years after his final season as a coach, Bud was still a unique resource for the organization. He was one of one.
— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) March 11, 2023
I love you Bud pic.twitter.com/oiTxwUUqcT
— Tommy Kramer (@Kramer9Tommy) March 11, 2023
Rest well Coach. Skol. https://t.co/Uvzl0Hkjqp
— Doug Chapman (@DougChapman) March 11, 2023
Love you Bud, so thankful for every conversation we have had over the years! RIP 💜 https://t.co/mQegJugKs7
— Adam Thielen (@athielen19) March 11, 2023
