Hall Of Fame coach, Cowboys nemesis, Bud Grant Dies

Former Minnesota Vikings coach, Bud Grant, passed away at the age of 95 on Saturday per the Vikings on Twitter. Grant was inducted into both the Pro Football and CFL Hall of Fames.

He is most noted as being the first head coach to lose four Super Bowls between the 1969 and 1976 seasons. Grant was named head coach of the Vikings in 1967, succeeding Norm Van Brocklin, after coaching the CFL’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers from 1957-1966.

While Grant failed to capture a victory in a Super Bowl, he did lead the Blue Bombers to four Grey Cup wins in six tries. Grant coached Minnesota through the 1985 season and finished 158-96-5 in regular season play and 10-12 in the playoffs with four NFC championships.

Versus the Cowboys

Grant’s record against the Cowboys was 5-7 overall, and only 1-3 in the playoffs. Two of the playoff games came in the NFC Championship game with the teams splitting the series.

The first game was the 1973 title game, won by the Vikings, 27-10. Minnesota dominated the game played at Texas Stadium. Golden Richards’ 63-yard punt return accounted for the lone Dallas touchdown.

The second game came in 1977 title game, won by Dallas 23-6. The Cowboys held Minnesota to a pair of Fred Cox field goals. Robert Newhouse and Tony Dorsett wore down the Vikings defense, both reaching double-digits in carries in the game.

The Hail Mary Game

But the most infamous game played between Grant’s Vikings and the Dallas Cowboys is the 1975 Hail Mary game. The Divisional Round playoff game was played at old Metropolitan Stadium in Minneapolis with a wind chill of 17 degrees.

While Dallas Cowboy quarterback Roger Staubach (12) looks for receiver in first quarter action, Minnesota Viking Carl Eller (81) leaps over Cowboy blockers Robert Newhouse (44) and Rayfield Wright (70) during NFC playoff game here Sunday in Bloomington, Minn., December 28, 1975. (AP Photo)

The Vikings looked to be on their way to another NFC Championship game, leading 14-10 in the final seconds and Dallas sitting at midfield. Then Roger Staubach connected with Drew Pearson on his only touchdown pass of the game.

Vikings fans still say it was pass interference on Pearson. Cowboys fans know better.

The loss prevented the Vikings from trying to make it to a third straight Super Bowl. Grant did lead the team to the Super Bowl the following season, only to lose to the then Oakland Raiders.

The Vikings have advanced to five NFC Championship games since their last appearance in a Super Bowl but have yet to make it back to the championship game.

THE FINAL MEETING

The last time Grant led the Vikings against Dallas came in Week 5 of the 1983 season. The Vikings jumped out to a 24-13 halftime lead. But it was all Dallas in the second half.

Ron Fellows 58-yard interception return off of Steve Dils in the third quarter put Dallas up 27-24. The Cowboys added 10 more points in the fourth quarter.

GRANT’S PLAYING DAYS

Grant was drafted out of the University of Minnesota by both the NBA’s Minneapolis Lakers and the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles. He originally chose basketball, winning an NBA title with the Lakers in the 49-50 season.

But after two years, Grant switched to football. He played well at wide receiver for one season in Philadelphia before heading north to play for the Blue Bombers in 1952.

After four seasons as a player, he’d impressed the team so much with his offensive knowledge he was named head coach.