The Vikings kick off their 2023 season on Sunday at home against Tampa Bay. They'll also have a commemoration of legendary coach Bud Grant, who died in March at the age of 95.
Vikings CEO Andrew Miller spoke to Vineeta Sawkar on the WCCO Morning News Friday about honoring the winningest coach in franchise history.
"We're going to have classic uniforms that pay homage to the 1960s and 70s, there's a Bud patch on the jersey and later in the season there will be a Bud sticker on the helmets," Miller explains. "There's a Bud-style hat giveaway for fans courtesy of U.S. Bank. Can't wait to have fans at U.S. Bank Stadium again."
Miller says that Grant's office at Vikings headquarters is still there as a tribute.
"Bud made such an impact on the Vikings' franchise, the State of Minnesota, the entire community, the sport of football," says Miller. "He was involved in our franchise for 57 years, and to have his office there, right down the hall from me, you know it's an incredible honor."
Miller told WCCO's Vineeta Sawkar on the Morning News that some forty former Vikings players from the 1960's and 70's are attending the game to take part in ceremonies honoring Grant.
Grant, the Superior-native who was a three-sport athlete at the University of Minnesota, served as the Vikings head coach for 18 seasons, leading them to four Super Bowl appearances, 11 division titles, one league championship and three NFC championships.
Grant’s career in sports was varied. He was a three-sport letterman with the Gophers, playing baseball, basketball and football. He would play professional basketball with the Minneapolis Lakers after being drafted into both the NBA and NFL. After two seasons, he left basketball for the Philadelphia Eagles and the NFL.
Grant became the Vikings head coach in March 1967 and retired following the 1985 season as the eighth most successful coach in NFL history.
He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1994.