EAGAN, Minn. — He earned All-America status, teamed with Jim Brown and Jim Marshall in the NFL, suffered "The Play" as head coach at Stanford and helped guide the intensity of John Randle to a Hall of Fame career.
Any of the achievements by Paul Wiggin were impressive enough to be life-defining. He could have rested on laurels long ago, but he loved working in the game of football too much.
The Vikings are mourning the passing of the longtime assistant coach and personnel executive who died Friday at age 91.
Vikings Owners Mark and Zygi Wilf released the following statement on behalf of the Wilf family ownership group:
"We are tremendously saddened by the passing of longtime Minnesota Vikings coach, scout and respected NFL figure Paul Wiggin.
Paul's impact on the game of football spanned decades. His ability to never miss a game over an 11-year NFL career with the Cleveland Browns earned him a spot on the Browns All-Time Team and an induction as a Cleveland Browns Legend. Following his playing days, he served as a head coach at both the collegiate and NFL level before becoming the Vikings defensive line coach from 1985-1991. If his playing and coaching career wasn't impressive enough, Paul went on to be one of just a few individuals tasked with building the Vikings personnel department from the ground up. He remained a member of the personnel staff for more than 30 years.
We had the honor of meeting Paul when we purchased the team in 2005, and it quickly became clear how much he loved the Minnesota Vikings. He captivated staff members and us with his stories about the history of the franchise and the NFL. He cared ab'out players, coaches and staff, and he wanted nothing more than to win a Super Bowl for Vikings fans. But what Paul was most proud of was his family — his wife, Carolynn, his three daughters and his growing number of grandchildren.
Our thoughts are with the Wiggin family and all those who had the privilege of knowing and working with Paul. His contributions to the Vikings legacy and to the game of football will long be remembered.
Wiggin joined the Vikings as an assistant coach in 1985 and remained with the organization for 40 years in a variety of roles in the personnel department after leaving the sidelines. He assessed linemen for scouting reports and offered valued counsel to co-workers.
Vikings Executive Vice President of Football Operations Rob Brzezinski began working with Wiggin in 1999 and appreciated Wiggin's wisdom and approach.
"Coach Wiggin is a legend as a person, player, coach and personnel executive. For 40 years, he demonstrated an incredible dedication to the Vikings, a team he truly loved," Brzezinski said. " 'Wigs' was a humble man with a generous heart who was a mentor and friend to players, coaches and staff. Above all, 'Wigs' loved his family and was an incredible husband, father and grandfather. His wisdom and friendship will be deeply missed."
Vikings Ring of Honor linebacker Scott Studwell played in 201 regular-season games for the Vikings from 1977-90 before joining Minnesota's personnel department and overlapping with Wiggin for nearly three decades. Studwell said he appreciated the friendship that developed through working with Wiggin.
"Paul was not only a great coach and dear friend of our family but he was also a mentor to some of the all-time greats in Vikings history, and the respect he earned from his players, fellow coaches and entire Vikings staff was unmatched. I'm honored to have worked for him, with him, and at the end of the day, know how he affected my career both on and off the field.
"Class acted who epitomized everything the Vikings stand for both on and off the field. Rest in peace my friend, and thanks for being there for me and my family. Love you from the bottom of my heart." — Stud
The modest man from Modesto, California, was a gentleman in every sense — yet effective in bringing out the best in his players. Just ask Randle.
"Paul was the original guru. He had a quiet way of imparting his knowledge and wisdom in a way that changed the game," Randle said. "He never raised his voice or spoke in harsh words. His humble leadership pushed you to be a better player and a better man. Paul taught me that you only grow when you get uncomfortable. Many of his lessons applied to both on and off the field. In many ways, I am who I am today because of Paul Wiggin."
A two-time All-America selection at Stanford, Wiggin was invited to participate in the 1956 East-West Shrine Game.
Drafted in the sixth round of the 1956 NFL Draft by Cleveland, Wiggin started 127 of the 146 regular-season games he played over the course of 11 seasons (1957-67). He joined Brown (1957-65) and Marshall (1960) in suiting up for Hall of Fame Head Coach Paul Brown, helping Cleveland win the 1964 NFL Championship and earning Pro Bowl selections after the 1965 and 1967 seasons.
Wiggin immediately followed his playing career by becoming a defensive line coach for the 49ers (1968-74) before the Chiefs hired him as their head coach (1975-77). He followed that with two seasons as Saints defensive coordinator (1978-79) and four as the head coach at Stanford (1980-83).
Wiggin's tenure with the Cardinal included the heartbreak of "The Play" against Cal in 1982 (known for "The band is out on the field!" broadcast call) and coaching John Elway on the quarterback's way to becoming the top pick in the 1983 NFL Draft.
After helping with the 1984 Summer Olympics, Wiggin was hired as Vikings defensive line coach by Hall of Famer Bud Grant, who was returning to the sidelines for a final season after previously retiring in 1983. Wiggin remained on Jerry Burns' staff for Burnsie's six seasons as head coach before transitioning to the personnel department in 1992.
In January 2023, Wiggin was presented the trophy for being named the 2022 Bud Grant Distinguished Minnesotan Award by the Minnesota Chapter of the National Football Foundation.
After examining the classic, sizeable football figurine, he didn't have to get far on the inscription to fully appreciate the significance. It meant so much to him, he said, because the award is named in honor of Grant, who had remained a consultant with Minnesota until his passing in March 2023.
"Going back to when I was a young coach, the word was, 'If you really want to be with a coach who respects you as an assistant coach, Bud Grant is your man. So if you ever get a chance to work with Bud Grant,' " Wiggin said. "I passed it up once, but I really was blessed to come here and be able to work with him. Just that one year was amazing."
Wiggin roomed that season with former Vikings defensive backs coach Pete Carroll, who was head coach of the Seahawks from 2010-23 and returned to the sidelines this season with the Raiders, and "we were Bud Grant fans."
Todd Fultz, President of the Minnesota Chapter of the National Football Foundation, explained why Grant is the namesake and why Wiggin was such a fitting recipient for the highest award presented annually by the organization.
"Bud is such an NFL statesman, and Paul is such an NFL statesman, they're cut from the same cloth," Fultz said in 2023. "They share so many similarities, and those similarities have had a critical, positive impact on Minnesota football.
"Both of them are willing to be under the radar, not looking for all of the attention," Fultz added. "I think that's a great part about football, that they're willing to do their job, they're willing to be part of an organization and understand it's a complete team game and is not about me."
Fultz described Wiggin as having a "a powerful but calming presence, that you know he's important and has information or experiences that far exceed most of the people in the room, but you don't hear him flaunting them or raving about them."
"He had a great playing career, Pro Bowl and all those different things, and coaching players at the highest level," Fultz said. "I think the other thing is when he tells stories … you don't feel like he's name dropping or anything, but he starts naming off the people that were involved in the story, and they're all NFL legends. Paul Brown. The guys he played with, the NFL icons, just an amazing NFL career.
"We're humbled and honored to be able to recognize him because we are grateful for his contributions to Minnesota football," Fultz added.
While others of Wiggin's generation retired and headed for warmer locales, the native of California's San Joaquin Valley remained Minnesotan and Viking.
"My wife absolutely loves the seasons and doesn't want to go to Florida. She wants to spend the winters here and all that. If you asked a whole room of people what they'd prefer, she'd stand alone in the corner," Wiggin said. "It does grow on you. You can't really say all of the things, but it does grow on you. I've told that to the coaches that have come here. It was so cold. I said, 'You wait, in a matter of time, you'll kind of appreciate being here.' "
