RIP, John Teerlinck

Today, the Minnesota Vikings family has suffered a significant loss.

Word has come out this morning that former Vikings’ defensive line coach John Teerlinck has passed away at the age of 69.

Teerlinck served as the Vikings’ defensive line coach under Dennis Green for the first three seasons of Green’s tenure, 1992 to 1994. He coached two future Hall of Famers during that time in Chris Doleman and John Randle. He would get high praise from Randle for the work he did with him in Minnesota.

“John Teerlinck is kind of like Mr. Miyagi,” Randle said. “He’s very unorthodox. A different breed. Rough around the edges. He tells you things that are funny, but they register if you just listen. That’s why he’s the guru.”

Randle later selected Teerlinck to be his presenter at his Hall of Fame enshrinement in 2010.

Teerlinck spent 24 years in the National Football League as a defensive line coach with five different teams, including 11 seasons with the Indianapolis Colts that ended with his retirement after the 2012 season. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest defensive line coaches of all time, so much so that each year the National Football League gives out the John Teerlinck Award to the league’s best defensive line coach.

We wish to send our condolences to the family and friends of John Teerlinck following his passing.