U.S. Bank Stadium Art Collection | Minnesota Vikings – vikings.com

As Head Coach, Bud Grant led the Vikings to their first playoff appearance in 1968 and a Super Bowl appearance in 1969, when he was named the Associated Press, Pro Football Weekly, and Sporting News Coach of the Year. The former University of Minnesota Golden Gopher, Minneapolis Lakers forward and NFL and CFL player crafted a perennial powerhouse, guiding the franchise to 11 division championships and three more Super Bowl appearances after the 1973, 1974 and 1976 seasons. Grant retired in 1983 but was lured back for one final season at the helm in 1985. He ended his career with 158 wins and an astonishing .635 regular-season winning percentage.

Both legends in their fields, artist Les Kouba and Pro Football Hall of Famer Bud Grant shared their passion for conservation and the preservation of our natural resources by teaming up to create a series of paintings celebrating wildlife. Outside of football, the great outdoors has been a lifelong pursuit for Grant and been a constant in the life of his family. World-renowned for his vivid waterfowl scenes Kouba's paintings captured the beauty of the natural world and his collaboration on the series with Grant provided a fundraising boost to conservation efforts.