Bud Grant

Harry Peter "Bud" Grant Jr. (May 20, 1927 – March 11, 2023) was an American professional football player and coach in the National Football League (NFL) and Canadian Football League (CFL). Grant was head coach of the NFL's Minnesota Vikings for 18 seasons; he was the team's second (1967–1983) and fourth head coach, leading them to four Super Bowl appearances, 11 division titles, one league championship and three National Football Conference championships. Before coaching the Vikings, he was the head coach of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers for 10 seasons, winning the Grey Cup four times.

Grant attended the University of Minnesota and was a three-sport athlete, in football, basketball, and baseball. After college, he played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Minneapolis Lakers where he won the 1950 NBA Finals. Grant left the NBA to play in the NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles before leaving for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the CFL. A statue of Grant stands in front of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers' current stadium, Princess Auto Stadium.

Grant is the most successful coach in Vikings history, He is the fifth-most winningest coach in professional football history with a combined 286 wins in the NFL and CFL. Grant was elected to the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1983 and to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1994. His mother called him "Buddy Boy", which later became "Bud".

Grant played football, basketball, and baseball at Superior Central High School.

Playing career University of Minnesota He graduated from high school in 1945 and enlisted in the U.S. Navy during World War II. athlete in football, basketball, and baseball for the Minnesota Golden Gophers,

While at the University of Minnesota, Grant was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity.

Minneapolis Lakers After leaving the University of Minnesota, Grant was selected in both the NFL and NBA draft. He was selected in the first round (14th overall) of the 1950 NFL draft by the Philadelphia Eagles and fourth round (47th overall) selection of the Minneapolis Lakers in the 1950 NBA draft. He played 35 games during the 1949–50 NBA season and signed with the Lakers for the 1950–51 NBA season. He chose to continue his basketball career with the Lakers because they were local and because he was offered a raise to stay for the season. After the death of Arnie Ferrin in 2022, he became the oldest living NBA champion.

Philadelphia Eagles After two seasons in the NBA, Grant decided to end his professional basketball career. He led the Western Conference in pass receptions for the 1953, 1954, and 1956 seasons and receiving yards for the 1953 and 1956 seasons. The Blue Bombers played for the Grey Cup in 1953, but lost to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the 41st Grey Cup game.

During his ten seasons as head coach in Winnipeg, he led the team to six Grey Cup appearances winning the championship four times in 1958, 1959, 1961, and 1962. He finished his Blue Bombers coaching career with a regular season record of 102 wins, 56 losses, and two ties and an overall record of 118 wins, 64 losses, and 3 ties.

Over his tenure as Vikings head coach, Grant was known for instilling discipline in his teams and displaying a lack of emotion during games.

In his second year, Grant led the team to a divisional championship and his first NFL playoffs appearance.

Career playing statistics

Basketball

College Source

NBA Source

Regular season

Playoffs

Football

NFL Legend Led the league Bold Career high

Regular season Year Team Games Receiving Fumbles Punt returns GP GS Rec Yds R/Y Lng TD R/G Y/G Fum FR Ret Yds TD Lng Y/Ret 1951 PHI12 11 0 0 – 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 9 0 9 9.0 1952 PHI12 12 56 997 17.8 84 7 4.7 83.1 4 1 0 0 0 0 0 Career 24 23 56 997 17.8 84 7 4.7 83.1 4 3 1 9 0 9 9.0

Head coaching record Source NFL Team Year Regular season PostseasonWonLostTiesWin %Finish Won Lost Win % ResultMIN1967383.2734th in NFL Central – – – –MIN1968860.5711st in NFL Central 0 1 .000 Lost to Baltimore Colts in NFL Western Championship GameMIN19691220.8571st in NFL Central 2 1 .667 Won NFL Championship. Lost to Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl IVMIN19701220.8571st in NFC Central 0 1 .000 Lost to San Francisco 49ers in NFC Divisional GameMIN19711130.7861st in NFC Central 0 1 .000 Lost to Dallas Cowboys in NFC Divisional GameMIN1972770.5003rd in NFC Central – – – –MIN19731220.8571st in NFC Central 2 1 .667 Lost to Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl VIIIMIN19741040.7141st in NFC Central 2 1 .667 Lost to Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl IXMIN19751220.8571st in NFC Central 0 1 .000 Lost to Dallas Cowboys in NFC Divisional GameMIN19761121.8211st in NFC Central 2 1 .667 Lost to Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl XI MIN1977950.6431st in NFC Central 1 1 .500 Lost to Dallas Cowboys in NFC Championship GameMIN1978871.5311st in NFC Central 0 1 .000 Lost to Los Angeles Rams in NFC Divisional GameMIN1979790.4383rd in NFC Central – – – –MIN1980970.5631st in NFC Central 0 1 .000 Lost to Philadelphia Eagles in NFC Divisional GameMIN1981790.4384th in NFC Central – – – –MIN1982*540.5564th in NFC 1 1 .500 Lost to Washington Redskins in NFC Second Round GameMIN1983880.5004th in NFC Central – – – –MIN1985790.4383rd in NFC Central – – – –NFL total158965.6221012.455

The 1982 NFL season was shortened to nine games due to a players' strike.

CFL Team Year Regular season PostseasonWonLostTiesWin %Finish Won Lost Win % ResultWPG19571240.7502nd in W.I.F.U 2 1 0.667 Lost to Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 45th Grey CupWPG19581330.8131st in WIFU Conference 2 0 1.000 Won over Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 46th Grey CupWPG19591240.7501st in West Conference 2 0 1.000 Won over Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 47th Grey CupWPG19601420.8751st in West Conference 0 1 .000 Lost to Edmonton Eskimos in Conference FinalsWPG19611330.8131st in West Conference 2 0 1.000 Won over Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 49th Grey CupWPG19621150.6881st in West Conference 2 0 1.000 Won over Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 50th Grey CupWPG1963790.4384th in West Conference – – – –WPG19641141.0945th in West Conference – – – –WPG19651150.6882nd in West Conference 2 1 .667 Lost to Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 53rd Grey CupWPG1966871.5312nd in West Conference 1 1 .500 Lost to Saskatchewan Roughriders in Conference Finals CFL total102562.644134.765

Post-coaching career After retiring, Grant became a less prominent public figure and focused on hunting and fishing as well as supporting environmental reforms. He was a spokesperson against Native American hunting and fishing treaty rights in Minnesota. In 1993, Grant's efforts resulted in a death threat. In 2005, he spoke at a Capitol rally in Minnesota for the conservation of wetlands, wetland wildlife, and water. Grant addressed 5,000 supporters, saying, "In this legislative session, we want to see some action. It's more important than any stadium they could ever build in this state." In 1983, Grant was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame and in 1994, he would be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame by Sid Hartman, who was by then a senior Minnesota sports columnist.

Until his death, Grant was still listed as a consultant for the Vikings and maintained an office at the team's headquarters at TCO Performance Center in Eagan, Minnesota.

In 2004, Bud Grant would be asked to return to the position of Vikings head football coach by Red McCombs, hypothetically replacing Mike Tice. However, the deal would break down over the salary Grant would receive. As Grant would state afterwards, "I would have come back...for a short time, anyway. It certainly would have been exciting to do at 78 years old."

In 2014, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers unveiled a statue of Coach Grant outside IG Field. In 2016, Grant was inducted into the Blue Bomber ring of honour.

Personal life and death Bud married Pat (née Patricia Nelson; born March 28, 1927) in 1950, and they had six children (Kathy, Laurie, Harry III "Peter", Mike, Bruce, and Danny). Bruce died July 25, 2018, from brain cancer. Mike Grant has coached Eden Prairie to 11 state championships since he began his tenure at the school. Bud Grant's grandson Ryan Grant was a quarterback and linebacker at Eden Prairie and played at the University of Minnesota (2008–2012) as a linebacker. Bud's granddaughter Jenny is married to former NFL quarterback Gibran Hamdan.

Pat Grant died of Parkinson's disease on March 4, 2009, at age 81.

Bud Grant died at home in Bloomington, Minnesota, on March 11, 2023, at age 95.

Coaching tree As of 2020, seven of Grant's assistants have become head coaches. One of these (Pete Carroll) has won the Super Bowl. Another (Marc Trestman) has won two CFL Grey Cup Championships.

Pete Carroll, Las Vegas Raiders (2025-2026), Seattle Seahawks (2010–2023), New England Patriots (1997–1999), New York Jets (1994) Marc Trestman, Chicago Bears (2013–2014), Canadian Football League, Montreal Alouettes (2008–2012), Toronto Argonauts (2017–2018) Jerry Burns, Minnesota Vikings (1986–1991) Buddy Ryan, Philadelphia Eagles (1986–1990); Arizona Cardinals (1994–1995) Les Steckel, Minnesota Vikings (1984) Jack Patera, Seattle Seahawks (1976–1982) Bob Hollway, St. Louis Cardinals (1971–1972)