Wheelin' and dealin': Lynn and the Vikings

Wheelin' and dealin': Lynn and the Vikings 1974: Jim Finks quits as Vikings GM, and team president Max Winter hires Lynn as his assistant.

1975: Lynn becomes the third GM in Vikings history, and he remains the longest-serving person to hold that job.

1982: The Vikings beat Atlanta 30-24 in the NFC playoffs, then lose to Washington 21-7.

1983: The Vikings play St. Louis in the first NFL exhibition game in England.

1984: Jack Steele and John Skoglund enter into a blind trust with Lynn. Winter is forced out. Lynn is named executive VP and assumes complete authority.

1984: After a 3-13 season, Lynn fires Les Steckel as coach and coaxes Bud Grant out of retirement for one season.

1984: In a protest against rising salaries, Lynn lets first-round draft pick Keith Millard sign with the USFL's Jacksonville franchise. He joins the Vikings for the '85 season.

1986: Offensive coordinator Jerry Burns is hired to replace Grant. Lynn trades two second-round picks to the Giants for the rights to tackle Gary Zimmerman.

1987: Lynn ships two low draft picks to New England for Rich Gannon. The Vikings finish 8-7 and gain a wild-card playoff berth. They win at New Orleans and San Francisco in the playoffs before losing at Washington 17-10 in the NFC title game.

1988: The Vikings finish 11-5, their best record since 1976, and send nine players to the Pro Bowl. They beat the Los Angeles Rams in the playoffs 28-17 in the wild-card game before losing at San Francisco 34-9 in the divisional round.

1989: Herschel Walker joins the Vikings in a trade that costs them five players and seven draft picks.

1990: Lynn accompanies Vikings players and coaches to a New Mexico corporate retreat to improve team morale.