This month's episode of Archive Dive features the second part of a two-part series looking back on the life of the legendary Bud Grant.

When the Pro Football Hall of Famer and former Minnesota Vikings head coach passed away March 11, 2023, it prompted an outpouring of sympathy from throughout Minnesota and his hometown of Superior, Wisconsin. The 95-year old Grant was an all-around athlete at Superior Central High School and beyond. In his later years, Grant enjoyed the outdoors and time with family at his cabin in Gordon.

For this episode, Superior Telegram reporter Maria Lockwood is joined by University of Wisconsin-Superior Communicating Arts senior lecturer and longtime sportscaster Tom Hansen, who grew up going to Vikings' practices at the old Midway Stadium in St. Paul.

Hansen was often in the same vicinity as Grant when he worked as a ticket taker and security for Vikings games at the old Metropolitan Stadium and early days of the Metrodome, but he would get to know Grant during his broadcasting career. Hansen interviewed him at special appearances in the Twin Ports and occasionally at University of Minnesota Duluth football games, where some of Grant's grandchildren played.

"Every sport he (Grant) touched, he was magical," says Hansen. "Superior was a big part of who he was and where he came from. "

Among Grant's athletic achievements, he played football, basketball and baseball at the University of Minnesota, before turning pro and playing in the National Basketball Association with Minneapolis Lakers from 1949-1951, winning a championship with them in 1950. Grant then went on to compete in the National Football League for two seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles and the Canadian Football League with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers for four seasons, playing on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball for both teams.

After his playing career, he went on to coach the Blue Bombers for ten seasons, guiding them to six Grey Cup appearances, including four championships. In 1967, he became the head coach for the NFL's Minnesota Vikings and went on to guide them for 18 seasons, leading them to four Super Bowl appearances. In 1983, Grant was selected to the Canadian Football Hall of Fame and in 1994, Grant received his biggest athletic honor when he was selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.

"It is the character that always drew me to Bud," says Hansen. "That there was the right way of doing things, there was the wrong way of doing things, but there wasn't a 'short cut' way of doing things. You had to earn that spot on the team, you had to earn that spot being a good teammate or being a captain. There are no short cuts in some of those things and so, his character really stood out."

Among the many players Grant coached was Superior native Doug Sutherland, who played defensive tackle for the Vikings from 1971-80. Sutherland passed away April 5, 2022 at the age of 73.

The Vikings announced that they will be honoring Grant all season long, including with special patches on their jerseys for their 2023 season opener Sunday, Sept. 10 at home against Tampa Bay.

When Grant passed away March 11, 2023, it was 56 years to the day when he was hired as the Vikings head coach in 1967.

New episodes of Archive Dive are published monthly. Listen here or wherever you get your podcasts. Episodes are edited and produced by Duluth News Tribune digital producers Wyatt Buckner and Dan Williamson. If you have an idea for a topic you’d like to see covered, email Maria Lockwood at  [email protected].