Head Coach Bud Grant Memoriam

In fact, Grant garnered a reputation not only for his stringent demeanor but also – lesser-seen by the public – for his sense of humor.

“I don’t deny that he sometimes looks like he’s a little cold out there … some people called him ‘stone-faced,’ ” said the late Brown, who played under Grant from 1967-74. “Well, I knew Bud pretty well and could talk to him any time, and I didn’t have any problem. We’d kid back and forth, and he was probably the biggest practical joker I’ve ever seen.”

Added Marshall with a laugh: “Guys would go fishing, and he’d take one of the fish and stick it in one of the places in their car where it wouldn’t be noticed for several weeks. And you can imagine what that would do.”

Respected by his players, fellow coaches and fans alike for 18 seasons, Grant led the Vikings to four Super Bowl appearances, 11 division titles, and 168 total victories.

“He knew what it took to win football games,” Krause said of Grant in a previous interview. “He knew what type of a person he wanted on his football teams, and we loved to play for him.”

Grant noted: “To win and endure, you don’t have to be brilliant. Just determined.”

Grant’s leadership stood out above all else.

“He never yelled, he never screamed, he never berated, but he was a great, great leader and a great, great coach,” said Tarkenton, who helped the Vikings to three of their four Super Bowl appearances. “I was privileged to play for him. If you could not play for Bud Grant, you could not play.”

Grant made the decision in 1983 to put away his coaching shoes, but he was coaxed back for one additional run in 1985.

After then retiring – for the second time – following that season, Grant remained a consultant for the Minnesota Vikings organization he shaped.

“It’s always great to me when I can sit and talk to Bud,” former Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer (2014-21) said at a past event hosted by the pair of football minds.

“I’ve had the opportunity … to get a chance to know him pretty well. We think alike on a lot of things,” Zimmer said with a chuckle. “It’s nice to hear the way he used to do it but also a lot about the memories and history of the Vikings.”