Former Vikings, Cardinals coach Dennis Green dies at 67

Dennis Green had a fascinating career in football before he died Friday at the age of 67.

In a statement from the Green family, they said “His family was by his side and he fought hard”.

Former Arizona quarterback Kurt Warner, who played for Green and then led the team to Super Bowl XLIII after Green’s departure, Tweeted: “My heart goes out to family of my former coach Denny Green – we lost a good man way too soon!” His coaching career started in 1973 as an assistant at Dayton where he was able to earn US$6,000 annually.

He was named head coach of the Minnesota Vikings in 1992, becoming just the second African American in the modern era to land the head position.

“All of us at the Cardinals are incredibly saddened by the news of Dennis Green’s passing”, Cardinals President Michael Bidwell said. “I lost my mother in April, I feel like I just lost father”, Smith wrote. Prior to Tony Dungy winning Super Bowl XLI with the Colts, Green’s 1998 season with the Vikings was the most successful ever by an African-American head coach. Green’s teams made the playoffs eight times and twice, made the NFC Championship, including in 1998 when Minnesota finished the regular season a league-best 15-1.

Arizona Cardinals head coach Dennis Green talks to the media in Tempe, Ariz. He was a pioneer as the school’s first black head coach, and his influence over the program still exists thanks to current Stanford head coach David Shaw, who played wide receiver for Green’s Cardinal in 1991.

Green’s tenure with the Cardinals also gave the National Football League one of its most famous outbursts of all time.

Green’s family posted a message on the Cardinals website on Friday announcing the death. Unlike Shell, who lasted six seasons, Green became an institution in Minnesota, coaching there for a decade. Green also knew plenty about Fitzgerald, who grew up in Minnesota and was a Vikings ballboy (who hung around with Moss) during Green’s tenure there. And of course the Cardinals (2004-2006).

After leaving the Vikings, Mr. Green worked as a television commentator, before returning to the sidelines with the Arizona Cardinals, where he served as head coach for three disappointing seasons, compiling a 16-32 record.

He coached later at Stanford where he had been an assistant for Bill Walsh.

Green established quite the coaching career over the years, but perhaps the moment that will continue to live on for years to come comes from his postgame press conference following a loss to the Chicago Bears in 2006.

“Denny was my guy”, Fitzgerald said. Green only trails Hall of Fame coach Bud Grant in each of those categories. Was looking forward to saying thanks at HOF.