EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. - Former Minnesota Vikings executive Mike Lynn has passed away.
The team released a statement Saturday saying they are "deeply saddened" by the news. The statement also reads, "He was instrumental in the success of the Vikings for many years. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Lynn family in this difficult time."
Lynn was the team's general manager from 1975 to 1990. Many fans remember him as the one who made Hershel Walker trade in 1989.
"He was a positive man who ran a good front office," says Matt Blair, a former Vikings linebacker from 1974-1985. "He would always try to work out the best deal possible."
Former Vikings punter Greg Coleman says Lynn was "very pleasant," but could flip the switch, too.
"He was a tough negotiator," recalls Coleman. "I got to know him well. He would always say, 'It's tough in the business arena.'"
Mike Lynn was 76 and had been living in the Memphis area. He was dealing with several illnesses over the past decade.
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