BREAKING NEWS:Minnesota Vikings coach announces he’s retirement
Grant, Coach of the Vikings, Announces Retirement
After 17 tenacious seasons as the Minnesota Vikings’ coach, Bud Grant announced today that he is retiring.
“It’s possible that there are financial concerns, personality conflicts, or health issues,” stated Grant, the sixth-most successful coach in NFL history.
“Not one of these is real. I’m only leaving to pursue certain goals that coaching would not let me pursue. At 56 years old, I’m in excellent health. Out of my six children, five have completed their college education, and the sixth, who is sixteen years old, is supported.
“I want to get out and do things that I might not be able to do when I’m 65: walk through the woods, wade through a trout stream, climb a mountain.”
The Vikings already have a candidate to take Grant’s place, according to general manager Mike Lynn. Lynn stated, “That candidate is on an airplane flight here right now,” during this afternoon’s small press conference. And if all goes well tonight when we discuss things, we’ll make our choice public prior to the Pro Bowl (this Sunday). This will not be turned into a circus act.
Les Steckel, an assistant coach for the Vikings, arrived in Honolulu later that day and announced he would take Grant’s job. “Bob’s decision surprised everybody,” Steckel remarked. “And I’m surprised to be coming to Honolulu.”
Grant stated that he will stay on with the Vikings in an unspecified role. He claimed that sometime around last Sunday’s Super Bowl, long after the Vikings’ 8-8 season was over, he made his decision. “That’s when you sit down and figure, ‘Where am I going?'” stated Grant.
Grant met with Lynn on Wednesday in Minneapolis to discuss his plans. Lynn claimed he tried to convince the coach to stay after learning of Grant’s plan and was taken aback by it.
After Lynn failed to follow through on that, the two took a plane to Hawaii to speak with the team president, Max Winter, who spends the offseason in Honolulu.
“Max was completely unaware of our arrival. He was out for a stroll. When we arrived at his house, his wife welcomed us, and Max arrived five minutes later. When he saw us, he was astonished,” said Lynn.
“He’s been my head coach for 17 years,” Winter said, introducing Grant to the press. There has never been any argument between us. He is a giving person. He’s made the decision that he can no longer coach.”
With a career NFL coaching record of 161-99-5, Grant trails only the greats of NFL coaching in victories (325, 235, 234, 226), George Halas (325), Tom Landry (235), Don Shula (226), and Paul Brown (151).
Grant won 122 games in ten seasons with Winnipeg in the Canadian Football League prior to joining the NFL.
Possibly the only NFL accomplishment that Grant did not accomplish was a Super Bowl victory. He reached that most precious of games four times, and each time he lost.
“I’ve found professional sports to be very beneficial,” stated Grant, who is only the second coach in the 23-year history of the Vikings. Before the 1967 season, Grant took over as the Vikings’ coach from Norm Van Brocklin.
I was trained to be a coach, and as you are all aware, it’s a demanding profession. However, it is incredibly one-dimensional. Your six-month program begins in July, when the treadmill gets going.
“There’s a lot of things in life I haven’t been able to do because of the commitment to coaching, the commitment all coaches put in.”
It seemed fitting that Grant should announce his retirement on a normally mild, sunny Hawaii day. He had a laid-back look, jeans, and an open-collared white cotton shirt on. Sweatdrops trickled down his brow.
If one were to paint a picture of Grant’s coaching career, it would depict a very different person than this: a stern-looking white-haired man patrolling the sidelines of the former Metropolitan Stadium, the snow up to his ankles, and every breath frozen in time.
Grant was asked to enumerate his coaching career’s high points.
Gesturing, “The highlight has been working for this organization,” he stated. “And not having lost their job.
“Being the Vikings’ coach is the best job in professional football, in my opinion, so it seemed like a good time to step down. The club has a strong core and is in good condition.”
Grant declared that he won’t second-guess his decision to stop coaching. “To be in coaching, you can’t have that kind of personality to second guess yourself.”
Regarding Minnesotans’ response to Grant’s exit, Lynn stated, “There is shock and disbelief.” This was an unexpected development. Bud Grant is a legendary figure. Three legends have spoken at our conference: Bud Grant, Vince Lombardi of Green Bay, George Halas of Chicago, and Halas himself.”
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