Mike Lynn
| Date of birth | May 18, 1936 |
|---|---|
| Place of birth | Scranton, Pennsylvania |
| Date of death | July 21, 2012 (aged 76) |
| Place of death | Memphis, Tennessee |
| Career history | |
| As administrator | |
| 1972 | Memphis Pros (president) |
| 1974 | Minnesota Vikings (assistant to the owner) |
| 1975–1990 | Minnesota Vikings (executive vice president and general manager) |
| 1990–1991 | World League of American Football (president) |
| 1990–1992 | Minnesota Vikings (executive vice president) |
| 1991–1992 | Minnesota Vikings (minority owner) |
| Career highlights and awards | |
|
1976 NFC Champions
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Michael Lynn, III (May 18, 1936 – July 21, 2012) was an American football general manager and executive. He served as the general manager of the National Football League's Minnesota Vikings from 1975 to 1990.
Prior to a career in sports, Lynn managed movie theaters in Memphis, Tennessee. From 1966 to 1974 he was President of Mid South Sports, Inc., a group that sought to acquire a National Football League franchise for Memphis. Lynn also served as President of the Memphis Pros of the American Basketball Association in 1972.
In 1974, Lynn was hired by the Minnesota Vikings as an assistant to the owner. He was named general manager in 1975 by then Vikings owner Max Winter following the departure of GM Jim Finks. Lynn led the Vikings to one Super Bowl and four Division Championship in his first four years with the team. In 1989, thinking that the Vikings were a big-time running back away from being a great team, he dealt what eventually turned into 5 players and 8 draft picks to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for running back Herschel Walker. The three 1st round and three 2nd round picks eventually netted the Cowboys Emmitt Smith, Darren Woodson, and Russell Maryland and three Super Bowl rings. On the Vikings' side, Walker gained 148 yards rushing on 18 carries in his first game, but averaged less than 81 yards a game for the other 26 games.
In 1990, Lynn was named president of the World League of American Football. He resigned as Vikings general manager, but retained his position as executive vice president. Lynn resigned as WLAF president on August 3, 1991 after less than one year on the job.
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