EAGAN, Minn. — Minnesota has added a well-known name — and former Vikings player — to the defensive coaching staff.
Minnesota announced Tuesday the addition of Greg Manusky as the team's inside linebackers coach.
The 55-year-old will serve under new Vikings Head Coach Kevin O'Connell.
This will be Manusky's second time with the Vikings organization but first as a coach. He played linebacker for Minnesota from 1991-93.
Most recently, Manusky spent the past two seasons with the University of Kentucky as a defensive quality control assistant.
This is far from his first NFL coaching gig, though; Manusky has 19 seasons of experience in the league's coaching ranks, including overlapping in Washington with O'Connell from 2017-19.
Here are five things to know about the new Vikings inside linebackers coach:
1. Back to Minnesota
As mentioned above, Manusky spent three seasons in Minnesota during his playing career.
He originally joined the NFL as an undrafted free agent with Washington, where he spent three seasons before donning a purple jersey under former Vikings Head Coaches Jerry Burns and Dennis Green.
Manusky was part of a Vikings defense that also included Hall of Famers Chris Doleman and John Randle. After his first season in Minnesota, Manusky was named to the 1991 All-Madden Team.
Manusky capped his NFL career with six seasons in Kansas City (1994-99). He appeared in every regular-season game over the course of his final seven seasons.
2. Colgate Hall of Honor
Manusky played at Colgate University in Hamilton, New York, where he was a four-year letter-winner from 1984-87.
As a senior, Manusky was named First-Team Division I-AA All-American by The Associated Press. He also was the Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year and was named First-Team All-Patriot League.
Manusky was a two-time recipient of Colgate's Hal W. Lahar Trophy, awarded annually to the most valuable defensive player. He graduated from Colgate with a dual degree in geology and education – after initially starting out as a math major.
In 2000, he was named to the Patriot League All-Anniversary Team.
Manusky was inducted to the Colgate Hall of Honor in 2005.
3. Manusky's mohawk
During his playing days, Manusky garnered a reputation for his interesting hair styles, usually a mohawk.
"It's [training] camp," Manusky said of his haircut and mustache. "It's supposed to be fun. It's supposed to be crazy. Anything I can do to get the guys pumped, I'll try."
It's been said he also once grew a beard only to shave half off it off.
4. Brought on nicknames
Manusky's dynamic personality earned him nicknames from friends and teammates.
Apparently, one of his "many" nicknames was Beetle, since he was told he demonstrated similarities with Michael Keaton's character in Beetlejuice.
Other nicknames given to Manusky included "Moondog" and "Pooky." In 1989, Washington guard (and 2010 Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrine) Russ Grimm called him "Him," a nod to "the dual-personality character Dom DeLuise played in The Cannonball Run."
"Him caused the haircut," said Manusky. "I will go around [the dressing room] before a game and say: 'Him better come out today.' "
5. Parental guidance suggested
In addition to his nicknames and occasional wild hairdo, Manusky also has earned a reputation for his choice of language.
"Greg Manusky is meant for mature audiences. He is a caffeine-fueled football coach who exudes energy and oozes expletives," wrote The San Diego Union-Tribune in 2011.
"I'll curse the bleep out of you," Manusky said. "When I stop cursing you, that's a bad thing. That means I don't give a bleep about you."
