Former Vikings head coach Jerry Burns dies at age 94

According to the Associated Press on Wednesday, former Minnesota Vikings head coach Jerry Burns of Detroit, Michigan, passed away at the age of 94. Burns was the head coach of the Vikings from 1986 to 1991. In that time period, the Vikings had a record of 52 wins and 43 losses.

On three occasions while Burns was in charge, the Vikings made the postseason. In the 1987 season, the Vikings reached the NFC Championship. Despite entering the playoffs with only a record of eight wins and seven losses, Minnesota was the fifth seed. They then spanked the New Orleans Saints 44-10 in the NFC Wildcard, and then beat the San Francisco 49ers 36-24 at old Candlestick Park in the NFC Divisional Playoff. However, Minnesota would go on to lose to the eventual Super Bowl champion Washington Redskins 17-10 in a tight NFC Championship battle. The Vikings reached the 1988 and 1989 postseason as well, but lost each time to the 49ers. Prior to being the Vikings head coach starting in 1986, Burns was the Vikings offensive co-ordinator from 1968 to 1985.

In addition to coaching the Vikings, Burns spent five seasons coaching college football with the University of Iowa from 1961 to 1965. Also at the National Collegiate Athletic Association level, Burns coached the University of Hawaii baseball team in 1952.

In other Vikings news, Minnesota traded cornerback Mike Hughes of New Bern, North Carolina to the Kansas City Chiefs with a seventh-round draft pick in the 2021 National Football League Draft for a sixth-round draft pick in the 2021 NFL Draft on Thursday. Last season, Hughes had 13 combined tackles (nine solo tackles and four assisted tackles), and one pass deflection.

In 24 NFL games, Hughes has 80 combined tackles (67 solo tackles and 13 assisted tackles), two tackles for a loss, three forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, two interceptions for 28 yards and one touchdown, and 13 pass deflections. Hughes’ pick six came in his very first NFL game, a 24-16 Vikings win over the 49ers on September 9, 2018.

Hughes will be given a chance to be a Chiefs starting cornerback in 2021. This is the second notable trade the Chiefs have made in the last month. On April 23, they acquired offensive tackle Orlando Brown from the Baltimore Ravens.

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