FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – April 9, 2024 – The Minnesota Chapter of the National Football Foundation is pleased to announce that former Minnesota Vikings linebacker and Director of College Scouting Scott Studwell will receive this year’s Bud Grant Distinguished Minnesotan Award. Studwell is set to be honored during this summer’s Minnesota Football Honors television broadcast. 

“We are so excited to honor Scott Studwell for his significant contributions to Minnesota football. Scott left a major mark on the Minnesota Vikings organization as a player and talent evaluator,” said Todd Fultz, President of the Minnesota Chapter of the National Football Foundation. “Scott evaluated and identified so many key players during the course of his career in the Vikings personnel department. His outstanding eye for talent helped the Vikings bring in many impactful players. We look forward to honoring Scott during this summer’s Minnesota Football Honors television broadcast.” 

Over more than four decades, Scott Studwell was a fixture of the Minnesota Vikings organization. Studwell, the Vikings all-time leading tackler, spent his entire 14-year NFL career in Minnesota. The two-time Pro Bowl linebacker became one of five Vikings to appear in more than 200 regular season games (214) and set team records for tackles in a game (24 against Detroit in 1985), tackles in a season (230 in 1981) and most consecutive seasons as Minnesota’s leading tackler (six, 1980-85). In 2010, he was named one of the 50 Greatest Vikings. 

Although Studwell officially retired following the 1990 season, his football journey was just beginning. Scott worked in player development in 1991 and was named the club’s Player Personnel Coordinator in 1992. Studwell then spent the next 28 years in the Vikings personnel department. From 2002 to 2014, he served as the team’s Director of College Scouting. Within that role, he helped the club identify and select key players like wide receiver Randy Moss, running back Adrian Peterson and safety Harrison Smith. Studwell worked in the Vikings personnel department until he officially retired following the 2019 NFL Draft. During his personnel career with Minnesota, fourteen of the Vikings draft picks combined for 30 All-Pro honors, 28 earned 63 Pro Bowl honors and 24 were named to All-Rookie Teams. 

Minnesota Football Honors is hosting a show to honor this year’s high school, college and Minnesota Vikings award winners. An official broadcast date will be announced at a later date on www.minnesotafootballhonors.com. To view a statewide map of past and present Minnesota Football Honors Award Winners, visit this site. 

Previous Bud Grant Distinguished Minnesotan Award winners: 

2014: Tom Moe

2015: David and Janis Larson

2016: Stan Nelson

2017: Morrie Lanning 

2018: Mark Dienhart

2019: Dick Ames

2021: Randall and Marianne McDaniel 

2022: Paul Wiggin 

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About the Minnesota Chapter of the National Football Foundation:

The Minnesota Chapter of The National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame is a local non-profit organization whose mission is to promote amateur football’s ability to develop leadership, sportsmanship, competitive spirit and academic excellence in Minnesota’s young people. The Minnesota Chapter recognizes legendary football icons, college football Hall of Famers and Minnesota’s top high school and college football scholar-athletes. For more information, visit www.nffmn.org, or Facebook (@MNFootballHonors) and Twitter (@NFFMN).

Contact:

Todd Fultz, President - Minnesota Chapter of the National Football Foundation

Phone: (612)-325-5500

Media Contact:

Daniel House, Director of Media Relations and Content

Minnesota Chapter of The National Football Foundation

Email: daniel@nffmn.org