Obituaries
Former NFL Coach Dennis Green, of Carmel Valley, Dies at Age 67
The former head coach of the Minnesota Vikings and Arizona Cardinals who settled in San Diego upon retirement died Thursday night.
SAN DIEGO, CA — Longtime professional and college football coach Dennis Green, who settled in San Diego County after he retired, is dead at the age of 67, his family announced Friday.
According to a statement shared with the NFL Network, the former head coach of the Minnesota Vikings and Arizona Cardinals died Thursday night from complications of cardiac arrest, with his family by his side.
"Denny was a terrific head coach and inspired his players on and off the field," said Troy Vincent, the National Football League's executive vice president of football operations. "He helped pave the way for minority coaches and recently served as a key advisor on the NFL's Career Development Advisory Panel."
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Green compiled a record of 97-62 with the Vikings, from 1992 to 2001, including eight playoff appearances. His 1998 team was 15-1 in the regular season and set the record for points scored in a season, a mark held for nine years.
He led the Cardinals to a 16-32 mark in three seasons.
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Before his NFL career, Green was the head coach at Northwestern from 1981 to 1985, and at Stanford from 1989 to 1991.
After retirement, he moved to Carmel Valley and taught sports management classes at San Diego State University up to 2008.
Chargers Chairman Dean Spanos said he was saddened to learn of Green's death.
"Denny was a fellow San Diegan, a friend and a good man," Spanos said in a statement released by the team.
"And he was a great ambassador for the National Football League," he said. "The NFL and all of us involved in the game of football are better off today due to Denny's involvement. It's a sad day."
Last month, Green spoke to the San Diego City Council in opposition to the 23.6-acre One Paseo development in Carmel Valley, which he contended would worsen already congested traffic. He said he and his wife considered moving after the mixed-use development was proposed.
The City Council later approved the project, which had been scaled-down from the original proposal.
According to the NFL, Green's family asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Boys and Girls Club of San Diego.
— City News Service
(Photo/Minnesota Vikings)