Bud Grant, the Hall of Fame head coach who led the Minnesota Vikings to four Super Bowl appearances, died Saturday at 95.

Grant compiled a record of 158-96-5 in 18 seasons with the Vikings (1967-83, 1985). The team lost in Super Bowls IV, VIII, IX and XI.

He also went 102-56-2 in 10 seasons as the head coach of the Canadian Football League’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers (1957-66), capturing four Grey Cup championships.

Grant was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1983 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1994, the first person to be enshrined in both.

Grant was named the CFL Coach of the Year in 1965 and the NFL Coach of the Year in 1969.

“We are absolutely devastated to announce legendary Minnesota Vikings head coach and Hall of Famer Bud Grant passed away this morning at age 95,” the Vikings posted Saturday on Twitter. “We, like all Vikings and NFL fans, are shocked and saddened by this terrible news.”

We are absolutely devastated to announce legendary Minnesota Vikings head coach and Hall of Famer Bud Grant has passed away this morning at age 95.

We, like all Vikings and NFL fans, are shocked and saddened by this terrible news. pic.twitter.com/z2NNlNAY44

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) March 11, 2023

Grant initially retired following the 1983 season but returned to coach the Vikings in 1985 after the team went 3-13. No coach in Minnesota history has won more regular season or postseason (10) games than Grant, who also remains the only coach to lead the Vikings to the Super Bowl.

A first-round draft pick by the Philadelphia Eagles in 1950 out of Minnesota, Grant appeared in 24 games over two NFL seasons. He caught 56 passes for 997 yards and seven touchdowns in 1952.

–Field Level Media

The Los Angeles Chargers reportedly restructured the contracts of linebackers Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack, freeing up $25.99 million in cap space and bringing the Chargers closer to cap compliancy ahead of next week’s start of the new league year.

The Chargers recently restructured Keenan Allen’s deal to save $8.9 million in cap space, as well as that of fellow wide receiver Mike Williams to save $5.46 million.

The Chargers now have $17.295 million in cap space, per Spotrac.

The restructuring of Bosa’s and Mack’s contracts provides short-term cap relief for the coming season, though the cap hits increase in 2024 to $36.6 million for Bosa and to $38.5 million for Mack.

Bosa, 27, is a former No. 3 overall pick who has played seven seasons with the Chargers, earning NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year honors in 2016. In 2022, the four-time Pro Bowler was limited to only 2.5 sacks in five games due to a groin injury that required surgery.

Mack, 32, played eight seasons with the Raiders (2014-17) and Bears (2018-21) before being traded to the Chargers before the 2022 season. He was named to the Pro Bowl six consecutive seasons from 2015-20 and was the Defensive Player of the Year in 2016. Mack had eight sacks in 17 starts last season.

–Field Level Media

With signs pointing to a deal for Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, the New York Jets reportedly restructured three contracts to save a total of $15.2 million under the 2023 salary cap.

ESPN reported that accounting tweaks to the contracts of cornerback DJ Reed, offensive guard Laken Tomlinson and tight end Tyler Conklin would save nearly the same amount the Jets would be charged if acquiring Rodgers via trade: $15.74 million.

Multiple reports Saturday pointed to the deal nearing the finish line and needing only the final approval of Rodgers.

The 39-year-old, four-time NFL MVP has contemplated retirement or relocation since the end of the regular season in what has become an offseason tradition for the Green Bay quarterback.

The Jets visited with Rodgers in California this week after the Packers signed off on their direct talks.

Attempting to draft and develop a quarterback has been an unsuccessful approach for the Jets. They drafted Sam Darnold third overall in 2018, only to trade Darnold to the Carolina Panthers. New York selected Zach Wilson second overall in 2021, but Wilson was benched last season while teammates questioned his maturity and leadership.

That opened the door for a change at offensive coordinator in the offseason. The Jets fired Mike LaFleur and hired Nathaniel Hackett, who coordinated the Packers’ offense for three seasons and has a tight bond with Rodgers.

Owner Woody Johnson was vocal about the need for a veteran quarterback while also endorsing the continued development of Wilson, who is only 23 years old.

Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said at the NFL Scouting Combine that Rodgers’ backup, 2020 first-round pick Jordan Love, is ready to start.

On Friday, team president Mark Murphy confirmed for the first time Rodgers had permission to speak with the Jets — and only the Jets — about a trade while discussing his tenure with the franchise in the past tense.

The Packers traded three-time NFL MVP Brett Favre to the Jets in August 2008 after he reversed a March decision to retire and reported to Green Bay. Favre, who played for the Packers from 1992-2007, spent one season with the Jets before joining the Minnesota Vikings for the 2009 and 2010 seasons.

–Field Level Media

The New England Patriots have parted ways with punter Jake Bailey after a turbulent seven months.

Bailey, 25, signed a four-year, $13.5 million contract extension on Aug. 1.

He landed on injured reserve with a back injury on Nov. 19 and returned to practice on Dec. 21.

In January, the Patriots suspended Bailey for undisclosed reasons for the final two games of the season.

ESPN reported at the time that the suspension was “due, in part, to differing viewpoints on if Bailey was ready to return to game action.”

Bailey, whose punting job was taken by Michael Palardy, later filed a grievance against the Patriots regarding the suspension.

The Patriots announced his release on Friday.

Bailey, an All-Pro and Pro Bowl selection in 2020, posted career-worst averages in gross (42.1) and net punting average (35.1) in nine games in 2022.

He appeared in 58 games with the Patriots, who drafted him in the fifth round in 2019.

–Field Level Media

Wide receiver Robert Woods is headed to his third team in three seasons, as he agreed to a two-year, $15.25 million deal with the Houston Texans, NFL Network and ESPN reported on Friday.

The deal reportedly features a $10 million guarantee but could top out at $17 million.

Woods was with the Los Angeles Rams in their Super Bowl-winning 2021 season, but he sustained a season-ending knee injury in November of that campaign and missed the playoffs.

He was dealt to the Titans in March 2022 and played all 17 games for Tennessee last year, making 15 starts. Woods caught 53 passes for a career-low 527 yards and two touchdowns, but Tennessee cut him last month.

Woods, 30, broke into the NFL as a second-round pick of the Bills in 2013. He spent four seasons in Buffalo and then five seasons with the Rams.

In 142 career games (130 starts), Woods has 623 receptions for 7,604 yards and 37 touchdowns. He also has 507 rushing yards and five scores on 74 carries.

–Field Level Media