Wade Wilson, a quarterback who led the Vikings to the NFC title game following the 1987 season, died Friday in Coppell, Texas, on his 60th birthday.
The Dallas Cowboys announced the death but not the cause. He was the team's quarterbacks coach through the 2017 season.
The Vikings lost 17-10 to Washington in the NFC Championship Game on Jan. 17, 1988.
Wilson was an eighth round choice (210th overall) of the Vikings in 1981 out of East Texas State and played 11 seasons in Minnesota.
He also played for Atlanta, New Orleans, Dallas and Oakland before retiring in 1999.