EAGAN, Minn. - He arrived in Minnesota as "The New Sheriff," and now Dennis Green will forever be a part of Vikings lore after the team announced Green will be inducted into the Ring of Honor.
Coach Green will be officially inducted at halftime of the Vikings' home game versus the Buffalo Bills September 23 at U.S. Bank Stadium. He served as head coach of the Vikings from 1992 to 2001, notching 101 victories and leading the team to a pair of NFC Championship games. His Vikings made the NFL Playoffs in eight of Green's 10 seasons in Minnesota.
Vikings owners Zygi and Mark Wilf, and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell informed Green's wife Marie of the honor at club headquarters in Eagan last Friday.
“Dennis Green’s impact on the Minnesota Vikings, and really the entire NFL, is still felt to this day,” said Mark Wilf. “In addition to being widely regarded as one of the NFL’s top coaches, Denny was also known as a great mentor and leader by all who had the fortune of being in his presence. We’re extremely honored to forever memorialize Denny and his family in the Vikings Ring of Honor and we’re looking forward to the induction in September.”
Besides his on-field contributions to the Vikings, Dennis Green was also an advocate of community involvement for his players and staff. He initiated "Community Tuesdays," which had players active in the Twin Cities on their day off, a concept that eventually spread to the entire NFL.
Green is the lone inductee in 2018 after the team inducted two wide receivers – Randy Moss and Ahmad Rashad – in 2017. The addition of Green will bring the Vikings Ring of Honor to 24 members. Current members include: Fran Tarkenton, Alan Page, Jim Finks, Bud Grant, Paul Krause, Fred Zamberletti, Jim Marshall, Ron Yary, Korey Stringer, Mick Tingelhoff, Carl Eller, Cris Carter, Bill Brown, Jerry Burns, Randall McDaniel, Chuck Foreman, John Randle, Scott Studwell, Chris Doleman, Matt Blair, Joey Browner, Ahmad Rashad and Randy Moss.
