Mike Lynn, former Minnesota Vikings general manager, dies

Former Minnesota Vikings general manager Mike Lynn has died, the Star Tribune reported Saturday. He was 76.

Lynn was the franchise's general manager from 1975 to 1990.

He is best remembered for one of the most lopsided trades in NFL history. The Vikings sent five players and seven draft picks to the Cowboys in 1989 for Herschel Walker, the running back Lynn considered the missing link to a Super Bowl run.

Walker never panned out in Minnesota, and Dallas used the windfall of players and picks to lay the groundwork for three Super Bowl wins in the 1990s.

Lynn helped organize a front office that turned the Vikings into a consistent playoff contender that drafted and developed three Hall of Famers - Randall McDaniel, Chris Doleman and John Randle, an undrafted rookie free agent. Lynn also played a big role in drafting several future Pro Bowlers, including Joey Browner and Keith Millard, and claiming Cris Carter, a troublemaker in Philadelphia who blossomed into one of the best receivers of his era in Minnesota, off waivers.

He also negotiated a deal with Max Winter that brought him 10 percent of the suite revenue from all Metrodome events over the life of the building, reaping a financial windfall for decades even after he left the team.

The Minnesota Vikings issued the following statement:

"The Vikings are deeply saddened by the passing of Mike Lynn. He was instrumental in the success of the Vikings for many years. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Lynn family in this difficult time."

The newspaper reported that Lynn had been suffering from poor health.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.