Dennis Green, the former NFL head coach who spent 13 seasons with the Minnesota Vikings and Arizona Cardinals, died Friday morning after suffering cardiac arrest. He was 67.
Green had a 113-94 career regular-season record as a head coach. He had five 10-win seasons, including a 15-1 season with the Vikings in 1998. He made eight playoff appearances in 10 seasons, all with the Vikings.
He last coached in 2006 with the Arizona Cardinals. His tenure in Arizona was less successful than his time with the Vikings, going 16-32 in three seasons. It was during that time that he delivered his “They are who we thought they were” post-game press conference tirade following a Monday Night Football loss to the Bears in 2006 in which the Cardinals led by 20 points in the second half.
“All of us at the Cardinals are incredibly saddened by the news of Dennis Green’s passing,” Cardinals president Michael Bidwill said in a statement. “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 many friends.”
..... - Newsday