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Dennis Green facts for kids

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For the Australian canoer, see Dennis Green (canoeist). For the professor of German, see Dennis Howard Green.
Quick facts for kids
Dennis Green
refer to caption
Green, circa 2015
Personal information
Born: (1949-02-17)February 17, 1949
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died: July 21, 2016(2016-07-21) (aged 67)
San Diego, California, U.S.
Career information
High school: Harrisburg
(Harrisburg, Pennsylvania)
College: Iowa
Undrafted: 1971
Career history
As player:
As coach:
  • Iowa (1972)
    Graduate assistant
  • Dayton (1973)
    Running backs coach & wide receivers coach
  • Iowa (1974–1976)
    Running backs coach
  • Stanford (1977–1978)
    Running backs coach
  • San Francisco 49ers (1979)
    Special teams coach
  • Stanford (1980)
    Offensive coordinator
  • Northwestern (1981–1985)
    Head coach
  • San Francisco 49ers (1986–1988)
    Wide receivers coach
  • Stanford (1989–1991)
    Head coach
  • Minnesota Vikings (1992–2001)
    Head coach
  • Arizona Cardinals (2004–2006)
    Head coach
  • California Redwoods / Sacramento Mountain Lions (2009–2011)
    Head coach
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Win–loss record: 113–94
Postseason record: 4–8
NCAA record: 26–63
Coaching stats at PFR

Dennis Earl Green (February 17, 1949 – July 21, 2016) was a famous American football coach. He was known for leading the Minnesota Vikings for 10 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). During his time with the Vikings, his teams made it to the playoffs eight times in nine years.

Dennis Green was one of the most successful coaches in the 1990s. He won 97 games and lost 62 as the Vikings' head coach. His best season was in 1998, when the Vikings had an amazing 15 wins and only 1 loss. They even set a record for the most points scored in an NFL season back then! However, they lost a big game, the NFC Championship Game, and he never reached the Super Bowl with the Vikings.

After leaving the Vikings, Green coached the Arizona Cardinals from 2004 to 2006. Even though his win record wasn't as good there, many people believe he helped change the team's culture. He brought in many players who later helped the Cardinals reach the Super Bowl in 2008. In 2018, after he passed away, Dennis Green was honored by being added to the Minnesota Vikings Ring of Honor.

Early Life & Playing Days

Dennis Green grew up in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. His father, Penrose "Bus" Green, was a postal worker and played semi-pro football. His mother, Anna Green, was a beautician. Dennis was the youngest of five brothers. Sadly, his father died when Dennis was 11, and his mother passed away when he was 13.

He went to John Harris High School in Harrisburg. Later, he studied finance at the University of Iowa. He planned to be a high school teacher if his football career didn't work out.

In college, Green was a halfback for the Iowa Hawkeyes. He played for three seasons. He ran for 699 yards and scored nine touchdowns. After college, he played briefly for the BC Lions in the Canadian Football League in 1971.

Starting His Coaching Career

Green started his coaching journey at the University of Iowa in 1972 as a helper coach. He then coached at the University of Dayton and again at the University of Iowa.

He also coached at Stanford University from 1977 to 1978, working under a famous coach named Bill Walsh. In 1979, Green joined Walsh's staff with the San Francisco 49ers in the NFL, coaching special teams. He returned to Stanford in 1980 as the offensive coordinator.

College Head Coach

In 1981, Dennis Green became the head coach at Northwestern University. This was a big challenge because the team had struggled a lot before he arrived. He was only the second African American head coach in the top division of college football history. In 1982, writers and broadcasters chose him as the Big Ten Conference Coach of the Year.

He left Northwestern in 1985 and went back to the San Francisco 49ers as a wide receivers coach. In his last season with the 49ers, they won the 1989 NFL Super Bowl Championship Game. Green even made the play call that led to the winning touchdown!

In 1989, Green became the head coach at Stanford University again. His teams had a record of 16 wins and 18 losses. They won all three "Big Games" against their rival, the California Golden Bears. In 1990, his Stanford team famously beat top-ranked Notre Dame. His time at Stanford ended with an 8-3 record in 1991, which was the team's best since 1986. They also played in the 1991 Aloha Bowl.

NFL Coaching Career

Dennis Green was highly respected by Bill Walsh and other NFL experts. They believed he would be a great NFL head coach.

Minnesota Vikings Coach

On January 10, 1992, Dennis Green became the 5th head coach of the Minnesota Vikings. He was the second African American head coach in the modern NFL era. When he was introduced, he famously said, "There's a new sheriff in town!"

For his first six years with the Vikings, Green's teams never had a losing record. They only missed the playoffs once during that time. He was praised for turning the team around. Green was also known for encouraging his team to do charity work in the community on their days off.

The highlight of Green's time with the Vikings was the 1998 season. The team had an incredible 15 wins and only 1 loss. They scored a record number of points that season. The Vikings made it to the NFC Championship game, but they lost a very close game to the Atlanta Falcons in overtime.

In 2001, the Vikings had their first losing record under Green. He was let go just before the last game of the season.

Arizona Cardinals Coach

After working as a TV analyst for two years, Dennis Green was hired as the head coach for the Arizona Cardinals on January 7, 2004. The Cardinals had not been a very successful team for a long time.

In his first two years, Green's teams won 11 games, which was an improvement for the Cardinals. The 2006 season started with high hopes because of a new stadium and new star players. However, the team had some tough losses. One memorable game was on October 16, 2006, when they lost a 20-point lead to the Chicago Bears in a Monday Night Football game.

On January 1, 2007, the Cardinals decided to fire Green. Even though his record with the Cardinals wasn't great, many people believe he helped set the team up for future success.

After coaching, Green worked as a radio analyst for NFL games.

United Football League

In 2009, Dennis Green became the head coach of the San Francisco team in the United Football League. This team later moved to Sacramento and was renamed the Sacramento Mountain Lions. Green coached them until 2011.

Death

Dennis Green passed away on July 21, 2016, at the age of 67, due to heart problems. He was survived by his four children.

After his death, the Minnesota Vikings released a statement. They said he was a mentor and like a father figure to many players. They also noted his important role as one of the first African American head coaches in both college and the NFL.

Head Coaching Records

College

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs Coaches# AP°
Northwestern Wildcats (Big Ten Conference) (1981–1985)
1981 Northwestern 0–11 0–9 10th
1982 Northwestern 3–8 2–7 T–8th
1983 Northwestern 2–9 2–7 T–8th
1984 Northwestern 2–9 2–7 9th
1985 Northwestern 3–8 1–7 T–9th
Northwestern: 10–45 7–37
Stanford Cardinal (Pacific-10 Conference) (1989–1991)
1989 Stanford 3–8 3–5 T–7th
1990 Stanford 5–6 4–4 T–6th
1991 Stanford 8–4 6–2 T–2nd L Aloha 22 22
Stanford: 16–18 13–11
Total: 26–63
  • #Rankings from final Coaches Poll.
  • °Rankings from final AP Poll.

NFL

Team Year Regular season Postseason
Won Lost Ties Win % Finish Won Lost Win % Result
MIN 1992 11 5 0 .688 1st in NFC Central 0 1 .000 Lost to Washington Redskins in NFC Wild Card Game
MIN 1993 9 7 0 .562 2nd in NFC Central 0 1 .000 Lost to New York Giants in NFC Wild Card Game
MIN 1994 10 6 0 .625 1st in NFC Central 0 1 .000 Lost to Chicago Bears in NFC Wild Card Game
MIN 1995 8 8 0 .500 4th in NFC Central – – – –
MIN 1996 9 7 0 .562 2nd in NFC Central 0 1 .000 Lost to Dallas Cowboys in NFC Wild Card Game
MIN 1997 9 7 0 .562 4th in NFC Central 1 1 .500 Lost to San Francisco 49ers in NFC Divisional Game
MIN 1998 15 1 0 .938 1st in NFC Central 1 1 .500 Lost to Atlanta Falcons in NFC Championship Game
MIN 1999 10 6 0 .625 2nd in NFC Central 1 1 .500 Lost to St. Louis Rams in NFC Divisional Game
MIN 2000 11 5 0 .688 1st in NFC Central 1 1 .500 Lost to New York Giants in NFC Championship Game
MIN 2001* 5 10 0 .333 4th in NFC Central – – – –
MIN Total 97 62 0 .610 4 8 .333
ARI 2004 6 10 0 .375 3rd in NFC West – – – –
ARI 2005 5 11 0 .313 3rd in NFC West – – – –
ARI 2006 5 11 0 .313 4th in NFC West – – – –
ARI Total 16 32 0 .333 – – –
Total 113 94 0 .546 4 8 .333

*Only coached 15 games

United Football League

Team Year Regular season Postseason
Won Lost Ties Win % Finish Won Lost Win % Result
CAL 2009 2 4 0 .333 3rd in UFL – – – –
SAC 2010 4 4 0 .500 3rd in UFL – – – –
SAC 2011 2 3 0 .400 3rd in UFL – – – –
Total 8 11 0 .421 - – – –

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Dennis Green para niños

  • List of National Football League head coaches with 50 wins
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