Former Vikings, Cardinals coach Dennis Green dead at 67

ESPN reports ex-NFL coach died of cardiac arrest

Former Minnesota Vikings and Arizona Cardinals head coach Dennis Green died Friday at the age of 67, ESPN and the NFL Network reported.

ESPN reported that Green died of cardiac arrest.

Green coached the Vikings from 1992 to 2001. Under his tenure, the Vikings advanced to the NFC title game in 1998 and 2000.

He spent three seasons with the Cardinals (2004-06) but failed to reach the playoffs during that span.

Green might be best remembered for his "They are who they thought they were" post-game news conference after Arizona blew a 20-0 halftime lead to the Chicago Bears on "Monday Night Football" in 2006.

Cardinals president Michael Bidwell released a statement about Green's death.

"All of us at the Cardinals are incredibly saddened by the news of Dennis Green's passing," Bidwell said. "Coach Green will rightly be remembered as a true innovator, leader and pioneer among football coaches. We express our deepest sympathy to his family and his many friends."

He had a career record of 113-94 and was 4-8 in the playoffs.

Prior to moving to the NFL, Green coached at Stanford (1989-91) and Northwestern (1981-85).


About the Author:

Peter Burke returned for a second stint of duty at Local 10 News in February 2014.