Several Vikings, both current and former, shared their thoughts on the life of former coach Jerry Burns on social media. Burns passed away today.

Jerry Burns was the Offensive Coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings from 1968-1985 and then was Head Coach of the team from 1986-1991. Burns, a member of the Vikings Ring of Honor, was a fantastic coach that wasn't afraid to express himself.

Burns will forever be tied to another Vikings Ring of Honor Coach, Bud Grant. In Grant's first year coaching the Vikings, he actually coached on coach short as he was holding the position for Burns, who had a contract with Green Bay.

Bill Walsh is the coach that many football fans will credit with launching the West Coast offense, but many forget it was Burns and those Vikings teams in the 1970s that were known for that style of offense. While the "Purple People Eaters" of Alan Page, Carl Eller, Jim Marshall, and Gary Larson get much of the press, Burns led a very impressive offense.

Fran Tarkenton and Chuck Foreman were two players that really benefited from the style of offense that Burns used. Foreman of course gave credit to Burns for creating the West Coast-style offense, as he told Chris Tomasson.

Burns was Head Coach at Iowa from 1961-1965, an assistant with the Green Bay Packers from 1966-1967. Burns finished his tenure as Head Coach of the Vikings with a record of 52-43 along with going 3-3 in the postseason including a run to the NFC Championship game in 1987.

Vikings 2021 Scheduled Released

The Minnesota Vikings and the NFL released their schedule for the 2021 season today, as well. The Vikings play in four primetime games and open the season in Cincinnati against the Bengals.

 

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