Former Minnesota Vikings owner Billy Joe “Red” McCombs died Sunday at age 95, his family said in a statement on Monday.
McCombs — who also owned the San Antonio Spurs and Denver Nuggets — bought the Vikings for $250 million in 1998 before selling to the current owners, the Wilf brothers, for $600 million in 2005.
“The Minnesota Vikings are saddened by the passing of former team owner Red McCombs,” the Vikings said in a statement. “Red embodied his famous ‘Purple Pride’ phrase and remained a staunch Vikings fan after passing the torch to the Wilf family in 2005. … We will be forever grateful for Red and Charline’s contributions to the Vikings.”
Charline McCombs, Red’s wife, died in December 2019.
The Vikings went to two NFC Championship games under McCombs.
McCombs was part of a group of businessmen who moved the ABA’s Dallas Chaparrals to San Antonio in 1973 and named them the Spurs. McCombs was instrumental in getting the Spurs into the NBA as part of the ABA-NBA merger in 1976. McCombs sold the Spurs in 1993 for $75 million.
McCombs bought the Denver Nuggets in 1982 before selling the franchise in 1985. He divested his stake in the Spurs during that time before reinvesting in the Spurs afterward.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement, “Red McCombs brought the Spurs to San Antonio and was a driving force in creating the modern NBA. He was an innovator and savvy entrepreneur who never shied away from taking risks. We mourn Red’s passing and send our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends and the Spurs organization.”
–Field Level Media
