Sad news in the football world today (as well as the NBA), as Bud Grant has died.
Grant was the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings for a long time. During his very successful tenure there, he led the Vikings to a regular-season record of 158-96-5. Minnesota won 11 division titles during Grant's tenure there, and he became the first head coach to lead a team to four Super Bowl appearances, although the Vikings lost all four of those Super Bowls.
One thing that I learned about him, and which surprised me, was that Grant had not only been a player in the NFL before his coaching career, but had actually played in the NBA, as well. He was drafted and played for the Minneapolis Lakers, and won an NBA title there in 1950, although he really only played a couple of seasons there. He then played for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1951 - 52, and then joined the Winnipeg Blue Bombers from 1953 - 56. He then became the head coach of Winnipeg from 1957 - 1966, during which he led the Blue Bombers to four Gray Cup championships in a span of just five years, from 1958 - 1962. He then got a chance to be a head coach in the NFL with the Minnesota Vikings, and he remained at the helm there from 1967 - 1983, and then again in 1985.
An excellent athlete and head coach, who was a legend particularly for Minnesota sports especially.
RIP, Bud Grant.
Bud Grant, Longtime Minnesota Vikings Coach, Dies at 95 by Ken Belson, March 11, 2023:
He took his Vikings, with Fran Tarkenton at quarterback and the famed Purple People Eaters defensive line, to four Super Bowls — although he lost each time.
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/11/sports/football/bud-grant-dead.html
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