Longtime Minnesota Vikings coach Dennis Green has passed away at the age of 67, NFL Media’s Mike Garafolo is reporting.
ESPN says Green died of cardiac arrest on Thursday night.
“Dennis passed away last night from complications of cardiac arrest,” Green’s family said in a statement. “His family was by his side and he fought hard.”
Former Vikings and Cardinals coach Dennis Green died early this morning after suffering cardiac arrest, per friend Ray Anderson. He was 67.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 22, 2016
Rest in peace Denny. I lost my mother in April, I feel like I just lost father.
— robert smith (@Robert26Smith) July 22, 2016
Green was the coach on the famous 1998 Vikings team that went 15-1 and reached the NFC championship game behind what was at the time the highest-scoring offense in NFL history. From 1992-2001 he led the Vikings to eight playoff appearances and two NFC championship games. Minnesota won 61 percent of its games under Green (97 wins, 62 losses).
He finished his coaching career in 2006 with the Arizona Cardinals.
The Vikings released the following statement:
“We are incredibly saddened by the sudden passing of former Vikings Head Coach Dennis Green. Denny made his mark in ways far beyond being an outstanding football coach. He mentored countless players and served as a father figure for the men he coached. Denny founded the Vikings Community Tuesday Program, a critical initiative that is ow implemented across the entire NFL. He took great pride in helping assistant coaches advance their careers. His tenure as one of the first African American head coaches in both college and the NFL was also transformative. Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Green family.”
Dennis Green's 1998 @Vikings team went 15-1 and set a then-NFL record for most points scored in a season (556) pic.twitter.com/8lulHDknrm
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) July 22, 2016
Former Vikings & Cards HC Dennis Green has passed away at age 67.
He was both talented & impactful. Rest in Peace. pic.twitter.com/9k4GqW1VZM
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) July 22, 2016
Dennis Green … good guy, good coach. Did a lot for African-American coaches on both NFL and collegiate levels. Big loss.
— Gil Brandt (@Gil_Brandt) July 22, 2016
