Grant’s First NFL Win Came at Vince Lombardi’s Expense
Part II of a Nine-Part Series on the First Win of Every Vikings Coach
When the 1966 season ended, the Minnesota Vikings were 4-9-1 and on a fast track to nowhereland. Norm Van Brocklin had alienated many Vikings’ players, and at various times over the years Van Brocklin called his players “stiffs” and “dogs,” saying “high school kids scrapped harder” than his players. Fran Tarkenton told management that he wanted to be traded: He ‘d lost that loving feeling, exhausted by Van Brocklin’s endless bitching about the way Tarkenton played quarterback.