During his career, Green’s teams went 113-94, including a 15-1 season with the Vikings in 1998, and at his stops at Northwestern and Stanford his teams went a combined 26-63 at the collegiate level.
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He was the second African American to lead an National Football League team in the modern era, after Art Shell, who was named coach of the Oakland Raiders in 1989. The Vikings advanced to the NFC Championship game but fell short, losing to the Atlanta Falcons on a field goal in overtime. He also coached three seasons (2004-06) with theArizona Cardinals.
The cause of his death was identified cardiac arrest as affirmed by his family through a statement posted on the website of the Arizona Cardinals.
Today the NFL lost a great football mind and long time coach with the passing of Dennis Green. “We express our deepest sympathy to his family and his many friends”, Cardinals president Michael Bidwell said in a statement. He compiled a 16-18 record and took the Cardinal to the 1991 Aloha Bowl in Honolulu, where it lost to Georgia Tech 18-17 to complete an 8-4 season.
After his time in Minnesota, Green moved on to coach the Arizona Cardinals.
Green was the named Vikings coach in 1992, where he was through 2001.
“Denny made his mark in ways far beyond being an outstanding football coach”, the Vikings said. “He mentored countless players and served as a father figure for the men he coached”. His coaching career started in 1973 as an assistant at Dayton where he was able to earn US$6,000 annually.
Rest in Peace Coach Green, you will be missed.
Arizona Cardinals head coach Dennis Green watches from the sideline during a game against the Detroit Lions in Glendale, AZ.
First things first: condolences to the family of the late Dennis Green.
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The news of Green’s passing comes on a day when the Vikings are holding a ribbon-cutting ceremony for their new stadium and are ushering a grand new era for the team.
