Bud Grant Biography

Harry Peter "Bud" Grant Jr. was an American professional football player and coach who competed in the National Football League and the Canadian Football League. Grant served as head coach of the Minnesota Vikings for 18 seasons, leading the team to four Super Bowl appearances, 11 division titles, one league championship, and three National Football Conference championships. He played college sports at the University of Minnesota, participating in football, basketball, and baseball. After college, he played in the National Basketball Association with the Minneapolis Lakers, winning the 1950 NBA Finals. He transitioned from basketball to the NFL, playing for the Philadelphia Eagles, before moving to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the Canadian Football League. Grant holds the record for most wins and most successful seasons as head coach in Minnesota Vikings history, and he was the most successful in Blue Bombers history until 2024. His contract ended after the 1952 NFL season, and he did not continue with the Eagles due to a disagreement over compensation.