Dennis Green dies at 67

Dennis Green, who served as head coach of the Minnesota Vikings and Arizona Cardinals during his 13-year tenure in the NFL, has died at the age of 67.

Hall of Fame quarterback Warren Moon told SiriusXM NFL Radio’s “The Blitz” shortly after Green’s passing that Green was always trying to bring his teams closer together.

“He was one of the great coaches in the National Football League that I played for,” Moon said. “He always tried to push that family environment on us.”

HOF QB @WMoon1 – Coach Dennis Green was my most favorite coach to play for. He loved to coach & brought a family environment to the lockers.

— SiriusXM NFL Radio (@SiriusXMNFL) July 22, 2016

Green spent his first 10 seasons in the NFL as head coach of the Vikings. During his tenure, the Vikings made eight playoff appearances. It was there that Moon played under Green from 1994-1996.

“My thoughts and prayers definitely go out to him and his family,” Moon said.

According to Moon, Green was the kind of coach who wanted his teams practicing hard and fast, but he also saw the value in making sure everyone was fresh for games, including the coaches.

“He wasn’t one of those coaches that made you stay all night and just burn yourself out,” Moon said. “He wanted his coaches to be able to spend as much time with their family as possible.”

The Vikings released a statement shortly after the news of Green’s death had spread.

“We are incredibly saddened by the sudden passing of former Vikings Head Coach Dennis Green. Denny made his mark in ways far beyond being an outstanding football coach. He mentored countless players and served as a father figure for the men he coached. Denny founded the Vikings Community Tuesday Program, a critical initiative that is now implemented across the entire NFL. He took great pride in helping assistant coaches advance their careers. His tenure as one of the first African American head coaches in both college and the NFL was also transformative. Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Green family.”

For more on Green and the legacy he leaves behind, listen to SiriusXM NFL Radio on Channel 88.