Dennis Green
After Jeff Diamond helped build the Minnesota Vikings into an NFC contender throughout the 1990s, the Tennessee Titans hired him away in 1999. The results didn’t work out with Tim Connolly after one year, so coach Dennis Green, who had been on the sidelines for the Vikings since 1992, took over as general manager.
In 2000, the Vikings reclaimed the NFC Central, but got creamed 41-0 by the New York Giants in the NFC Championship Game. With a 5-7 record and four games to go in 2001, the Vikings dropped their next three games. Minnesota bought out Green’s contract with a game to go.