Denny Green -- Dead at 67 ... Cardiac Arrest

Ex-NFL head coach Denny Green died Friday morning at the age of 67, his friend confirmed to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Green reportedly died from cardiac arrest.

Green coached in the NFL from 1992 to 2006 ... famously leading the Minnesota Vikings to a 15-1 record in 1998.

He later went on to coach the Arizona Cardinals -- and, after losing a game to the Bears, gave one of the most famous post-game comments in Monday Night Football History.

"The Bears are who we THOUGHT they were! That's why we took the damn field! Now if you want to crown them, then crown their ass! But they are who we thought they were! And we let 'em off the hook!"

3 coaches who worked under Green went on to become head coaches in the NFL -- Tony Dungy, Mike Tice and Brian Billick.

AZ Cardinals president Michael Bidwell issued a statement saying, "All of us at the Cardinals are incredibly saddened by the news of Dennis Green's passing."

"Coach Green will rightly be remembered as a true innovator, leader and pioneer among football coaches. We express our deepest sympathy to his family and his many friends."